Car Door Panels & Armrest: Things To Know Before Buying One

Door Panels

Inner door panels work as a barrier between the car and inner door components and between the passengers and the doors. Door panels come in a variety of colors and designs to improve the aesthetics of the car and also performs the desired functionality. Usually the color and material theme of the door panels matches with the pillars and the dashboard, concealing the delicate electrical and mechanical components which operates locks, windows, side mirrors and other features. Today, door panels have become more complicated than they were in the past in both form and functionality. These panels consist parts and components pertaining to electronic windows, car locking system, and speakers and are made of a foamed core covered with textile or plastic material.

Armrests

Armrests in a car are adopted from the idea of having them on any chair we sit on. Armrests gives additional support and comfort to the passengers by allowing them to rest their arms, rather than keeping them suspended all the time. This feature is really helpful in long journeys.

In most of the vehicle, the pre-installed door panels and armrests are installed in relation to the style and material used in pillars and dashboards. These panels are made from a single molded plastic material to avoid wastage. However, as the manufacturing industry has involved, inner panels have started to be made from materials like metal, thin cardboard, plastic, fiberglass and wood.

There are basically two types of door panels and armrests, i.e., for the front and the back doors of the car.

1. Front - The central armrest in the car front is often a user preference and may also include storage compartments and cup holders. Some may also may essential vehicle control buttons and switches like window control, climate control, etc. Sometimes, individual armrests are also installed in bigger vehicle s like pickup trucks and SUVs. The most common armrests are molded in door panel as an extension of the door pulling handle.
2. Rear - In many sedans and hatchbacks, the centre armrest typically folds to provide the sitting area for the third passenger. When only two passengers are sitting in the rear, the armrest can be pulled out of its compartment to provide good enough comfort to rear passengers. The door armrests are similar to the ones made for the front door panel.

Following are the important features of car door panels and armrests:

Door Panels

• Protects the passenger from injuries
• Protects the inner panel wiring and components
• Helps in functioning of door handle, window operator, etc.
• Provides extra storage compartments

Armrests

• Protects neck, shoulder and arm pressure
• Reduces pressure on back
• Helps reduce head, neck and shoulder pains
• Reduces seating pressure and corrects posture
• Decreases load on back, hips and knees

The door panels and armrests help to manage the aesthetics, functionality and ergonomics of the car. These panels are mostly attached to the door frame using visible screws and decorative plugs, or under armrest, using spring clips.

There are a number of skilled auto mechanics who have a goal of opening their own car repair shop at some point in their career. But let’s face it; if you want to put up an efficient as well as profit making shop, then you might need much more than mechanical skills. There are a number of tools which you might need to perform the car repairs quickly as well as reliably. Auto repair equipment that you will need to repair your Door Panels & Armrests may include:

• Long and short flat-head screwdrivers
• Metal pick (small)
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Plastic door panel clips

If customers trust a brand, then it would make them loyal, and if they are loyal, then they will surely buy more. We are well aware that customers want comfort, cheerfulness as well as satisfaction in their lives and that’s the reason why we offer top quality auto parts brands to our customers. We make sure to provide a positive experience to our consumers from the brands which we are offering so that they can form an opinion that a particular auto parts brand is trustworthy and would give them peace of mind while they are purchasing it for their car. Here we have listed out some top brands for Door Panels & Armrests.

There might be a big-picture overview of Door Panels & Armrests in your mind, and now it’s time to look at its related components.

• Door Panel
• Door Lock Knob

Following are the steps to change car door panels and armrests:

1. Door Panels - If you notice some annoying rattling noise coming for the car door panel, or see that various components like the door handle, door locks and window operators are not functioning properly, and certain switches are not functioning properly, the door panels have to be removed and treated properly. But removing the door panels can be tricky and must be done with proper knowledge and using correct tools. Follow the steps mentioned below:
2. Have the right parts & tools - Prepare yourself before removing the car door panels. This is because, if you try to remove the door panels incorrectly, you may crack or damage the plastic molding and the inner wiring and harness. Thus, make use of proper tools & equipment to remove the car door panels. Also make note of the various electrical components embedded in the door panel that are not functioning properly to make a list of the components required to be purchased to make your job easier.

Removing door panel

• Before starting the process, put the car in park and turn off the car engine. Park the car under the shade of in the garage, to calmly remove the door panel.
• Pry away covers and lights that are present over the door panels, which will expose the mounting screws beneath them.
• It is important to find the exact location of the mounting screws to properly remove the door panels. Commonly there are 4 or 5 mounting screws holding the door panel in place.
• After removing all the screws, separate the door panel from the door by grabbing the bottom of the panel and firmly pulling the panel from the door. This helps in releasing the locking tabs, holding the door panel in place.
• Pry the panel off the door, allowing the panel to lift up from the car door. Remember to lift up the door carefully, avoiding any damage to the electrical wiring, harness, connectors and components.
• Check for broken door clips that might have got damaged on removing the car door panels. Remember to replace them before installing the new door panels.

Installing the door panels

• Hold the car door panel close enough to the door to reattach the electrical connections that were detached while removing the door panel. Also attach the associated electrical components and avoid any electrical wiring breakage. Don’t leave any loose connections.
• Next step is to install the door panel in place. For this, reverse the order of removal. Start by installing the panel from the top, i.e., by the window seal. Then, push the car door panel until the installation clips snap in place. Look behind the panel to see that the panel clips and mounting holes align in place properly for correct installation.
• Return the plastic covers and screws in place. Install the mounting screws and covers by pushing them back in place. This ensures that the door the attached correctly. Note that the various plastic parts can get brittle over time and can break-off. Thus, install the panel properly and replace the damaged parts too. Also be careful of door airbags deployment, if they are present in your vehicle. Thus, install properly.
• After installing the door panel and related electrical components, it’s time to check the operation. Turn on the ignition and listen for any rattling noise. Also check, if all the switched are functioning properly or not.
• Thus, the removal and installation process in relation to the door panels can become very easy and painless, if you use proper technique and correct tools. If the process seems too difficult, never hesitate from taking the help of a professional to finish the job correctly.