Door panel crack

**johnfin** · 04-06-2013, 01:14 PM

so where is the staple that so many people talk about that cracks the door panel. I just dont see it.

**speedyWS6** · 04-06-2013, 01:20 PM

John,

There is some good reading here...

http://www.ls1.com/forums/f36/cracke...-panels-86198/

You will certainly have staples, somewhere, guarantee it!!

Trev

)

**98BlackMambaWS6** · 04-06-2013, 03:07 PM

I believe they are where the weatherstripping is connected to the plastic...I did mine about two years ago....once you get the panel off you will see them....what a pain to take out .... I replaced the staples with thin copper wire that I twisted....no issues since

**johnfin** · 04-08-2013, 05:40 AM

So is the real issue the weatherstripping attached to the plastic door panel? The stress point is the 90 degree area where the crack starts in the picture. Same reason they put a grind relief on a crankshaft journal or saw cuts into concrete.

**KMdef9** · 04-09-2013, 11:27 AM

When they installed the weatherstripping the panels were more than likely torqued, so this put constant tension on them. After a few years cooking in the sun, and the plastic becoming more brittle, they give way.

I fixed mine following the directions using the machine screws. I replaced almost every staple too.

Here's my before/after:

**herculesrider1** · 04-20-2013, 02:27 PM

Once you take your door panel off, you will notice the staples holding the weatherstripping on. Those are the staples that need to be taken out in order to "stress-relieve" the plastic. I drilled small holes once I took out the staples and put in small 8-32 screws with washers and backing nuts through the weatherstripping and through the plastic panel. Be sure to take the staples out before drilling your holes and give it a few minutes to relax. Drill the holes near or even through the holes where the staples were once it relaxes. I used permatex medium strength threadlocker blue on final assembly. I cut the ends of the screws off with electricians wire strippers and then applied the threadlocker to keep the nuts from loosening up. I did mine before the cracks started as a pre emptive effort. That was about 4 years ago, and they are still holding!