interior question? craked door panel? need help?

**carnut7202** · 05-17-2010, 02:50 PM

ok guys i know this is a farily common problem from what i hear. I got in t/a today and nocited a small crack at the top of the door panel. i know it can be fixed but i cant find what section iti s under if any would could tell me where to look would be a great help. I figured there would be a sticky on it but i cant find one

**02pewterws6** · 05-17-2010, 05:03 PM

Hey there, I don't know where the other posts are at, but I just performed my own repair a week ago.

The way that I found to fix it was from another website. They said that the problem lies with the way the rubber piece at the top of the panel is stapled to the door pad. The way you fix this is to obviously take off the door pad and remove the staples that cause the stress on the plastic. I just removed the last 5 or so. Go to your local hardware store and get 'Machine head #4-40 1/2" bolts.' I believe that they have a phillips head on them, and they come with the nuts. There were 8 or so in the pack I bought for $1. Then you will need some epoxy to place on the back side of the panel, where it is starting to crack, before you put the new bolts in, and after you have removed the staples. I also used some mesh type material to go across the panel over the crack and then put the epoxy on top of it to give the panel more support.

Let me know if you have any questions, but this should save whatever is left of your panel before it cracks all the way through.

**Cutlass** · 05-17-2010, 05:48 PM

Instructions:
http://www.highperformancepontiac.co...air/index.html
Another good write up
http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76192

**KMdef9** · 05-17-2010, 07:16 PM

Here's how nasty my driverside was. It's actually out in the garage as we speak waiting for the glue to cure.

I used a series of clamps and bunji cords to get the crack flush and sealed up. Use a flashlight/shop light behind the panel to check how sealed up you are. Typically, the more light that doesn't get through, the closer the panel parts are together and this helps hide the crack better. This is where I spent most of the time on this project.

I would also suggest working carfully with the plastic, as overtime it becomes brittle.

The rubber/felt piece also has metal in it, so becareful not to put a huge bend in it, or it may create a sort of ripple finished product if not straightened out well enough.

Lastly, but most importantly, DO THIS TO YOUR OTHER PANEL. Although it may not need it yet, these steps can be taken as preventative cautions.

**carnut7202** · 05-19-2010, 07:45 AM

thanks for the info guys. whish me luck

**KMdef9** · 05-19-2010, 10:40 AM

I'll have a final result pic for you when I get home later so you can how it turns out.

**KMdef9** · 05-19-2010, 01:48 PM

This is the passenger side progress (driver side needs more attention). Sorry for the crap cell phone pic.

Before

After

I used a razor blade to clean up loose pieces of stray plastic on the frontside after the glue dried.

**Z28boy2000** · 05-19-2010, 02:19 PM

looks a lot better, good job

**carnut7202** · 05-21-2010, 07:45 PM

yea it does look good. how and what did you use to get the crack to close up???

**TransAmPhantom** · 05-23-2010, 06:59 PM

http://s787.photobucket.com/albums/y...panelcrack.jpg

Oh ya! Look at mine...both sides are like that..

**KMdef9** · 05-23-2010, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by carnut7202

yea it does look good. how and what did you use to get the crack to close up???

After you pull the staples, it naturally rests alittle. I then used some vice grips and sadly bunji cords to hold in it place. Once the crack seemed to disappear the most, then I glued it. Let me see if I can load the pic really quick (if I still have it).

**KMdef9** · 05-23-2010, 08:22 PM

**carnut7202** · 05-25-2010, 06:16 PM

well thanks for the info on how u closed the crack. I wonder what would it take for GM to make this a recall. It shure would be nice if they did but they probley never will oh well life goes on