How to remove armrest & upper padding and replace on newer door panels

[Clinton]

I recently took the armrest and upper padding off an older set of door panels, had them re-covered and added them to my 01 door panels. The older panels were slightly different and This "How to" Will show how you need to modify your newer door panels to fit the armrests and also shows how to remove the armrest, upper padding and re-mount them on 01+ door panels.

Tools / material needed:
Dremel
Phillips screwdriver
1500 grit sand paper
Liquid nails
Safety glasses


Step 1. Door panel removal

Using a phillips head screwdriver, remove the 2 screws holding the handle bezel and unsnap the bezel from the door panel itself. Unplug wires (if you have power doors)
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/takingoffdoorhandles.jpg
Then remove the center screw for the panel which is located under the door handle, then remove the screw in the left bottom corner of the driver side, right corner screw for passenger side.

Next lift the panel up and out, removing it from the door.

Step 2. Armrest removal and upper padding removal

First unscrew the six screws holding the armrest on and remove the armrest.
Next using your dremel, cut the glued pins that hold the upper padding on the door. Try to stay as close as possible to the pin so you do not make the holes too big, and do not plunge the dremel in too far so it does not damage the padding on the door.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/cuttingtheupperpaneloff.jpg

As you can see in the picture, the 01 armrest is different from the older style. It is plastic wrapped in rubber material. The older ones are a vinyl type material with cushioning.http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/01armrest.jpg


Step 3. Modify 01 panels to fit older style armrest and upper padding.

In these pictures you see the older panel having 3 upper screws, and 3 slots in the bottom which hold the armrest on. On the 01 panel it has 3 upper screws and 3 lower screws.

older panel
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/oldpanel-1.jpg
01 panel
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/mypanel.jpg

Also on the front side of the 01 panel,it has a lip in the front to support the armrest, the older panel does not

01 Panel
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/nubnewpanel.jpg
Older panel
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/oldpanelnonub.jpg

Again, using your Dremel, on the 01 door panel, you are going to cut the bottom 3 screw holes for thew armrest out into a rectangular shape to mock the older panels.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/mypanelmod1.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/choppedpanel.jpg

Next, you are going to chop the front lip on the 01 armrest flush to the surface, then sand it for a smooth finish.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/chopnubnewpanel.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/chopholesnewpanel.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/sandingnudflush.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/nubchopped.jpg

Step 4. Mounting Re-covered armrest and upper padding.

First screw in the 3 upper screws for the armrest, then clip the lower "L" shaped brackets from the armrest to the door panel.

Next line up the upper padding, making sure it fits properly onto the panel, apply some liquid nails, and clamp it to the panel so it does not move when gluing it.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/Attachdoorpadding.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/clampingupperpadding.jpg

Once the upper padding is clamped, and the armrest is secure, Use liquid nails to glue the bottom "L" shaped clips to the panel and fill in the holes, gluing the pins from the upper padding to the door panel.
"L" shaped brackets glued
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/liquidnailsbottomarmrest.jpg
Upper padding glued

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/How%20to%20album/liquidnails.jpg

Follow the instructions on the liquid nails for drying time. The drying time for my panels were over 24 hours.

Once the panels are dry, put them back on the door in reverse order of taking them off.

Here is the finished product!
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/doors2.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/ruler_aragorn/doors.jpg

I did not wrap the arm rests or the upper padding myself. They were sent to Drppdyllwrngr and he did the re-cover work.

[MooDib]

Looks nice, but complicated.

[Clinton]

Not complicated at all, very easy to do. It just sounds harder than it actually is

[MooDib]

How much would that normally cost if you had to pay someone to wrap the arm rest and for the older panel? I imagine wrapping would be difficult to do right if you have no experience.

[Clinton]

Yeah I have no experience in it, Thats why I sent it to Troy (drppdyllwrngr) he does awesome work. I think taking to a shop would have cost about 100.00, and did it ALOT cheaper.

[wyman00]

Nice work!

[Clinton]

Thanks man!

[azgilamonster]

great write up Clinton, btw when did you put the self portrait in your avatar :D

[Clinton]

LOL, the other day it was done, spitting image isnt it?!

[azgilamonster]

hahahaha looks like identical twin LOL should put a couple dinner plates in the other corner

[DieHard4rd]

Nice write up..

[Clinton]

hahahaha looks like identical twin LOL should put a couple dinner plates in the other corner

LOL.....Giggity!

Nice write up..

Thanks dude