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A Guide To Your Car's Door Trim

What Is Auto Door Trim?

The appearance of the car from the outside determines a lot and sometimes the little details are what make the differences between a shabby and frowzy appearance of the car to a pristine new look that can extend the life of any car drastically and even value. One such element could be a Car Door Trim, also called Door Pillars, and not the interior kind: the trims that go on the exterior of the car on the door panel across the B-pillars. They are made to give a distinguishing look to every car that sports them and can also be practical for those who tend to scratch or ding up their door quite often and will save you hundreds in body repair bills.

Where Is Auto Door Trim Located?

The door trims can be found on many parts of the door including the B-pillars or between two windows, the side edges, etc. They are easy to install and require very little effort as they usually come with backing tape.

Types of Auto Door Trim

The door trims are mouldings and protective parts that enhance the appearance of the door and the vehicle and also safeguard the underlying panel. The different types of door trims are:

 

  1. Door Pillar Post - These are situated on the B-pillars and C-pillars of the vehicle and can add a distinctive look to the window frame.
  2. Door Mouldings - These are usually located on the most protruding section of the door panels to protect it against dents and scratches.
  3. Vehicle Window Trim - These are pieces that go around the window structure and help protect the exposed areas while also adding a distinctive look. 

Important Features Of Auto Door Trim

Door trims come in a variety of styles to match the look of your car and finish. Chrome-plated is probably the most preferred type as they help highlight and accent but body color-matched can look fresh out the factory door. Door trims can visually increase the appeal of any car and also act as protection for the doors.

Frequent Problems With Auto Door Trim

These are usually made of plastic or rubber as they are an expandable trim piece on the car and with sustained usage can get deteriorated and weathered due to the elements and daily abuse. Some have chrome plating for added styling that will scrape off after long and can decrease the overall look of the car while reducing protection.

Symptoms Of A Bad Auto Door Trim

After long the door trims on the car will show signs of deterioration and lose its strength and can fall off the door due to the glue being dried up. They also crack on impacts. These are mainly used for protection purposes and hence replacing them would not only increase protection but also enhance the overall styling of the vehicle.

Tools Needed For Auto Door Trim

To avoid scratching or grooving the tailgate and its paint while removing these trim prices and to refit it, make sure to use the following tools:

 

Top Brand Of Auto Door Trim

If you know which car parts brand suits the best for your Door Trim, then it would save a lot of your decision-making time. What we believe is that picking a particular brand would always be helpful in reducing the clutter, and at the same time would make it easier for the customers to find what they are actually looking for. That’s why we have listed out some top brands for Door Trim below as follows: -


Putco Door Trim

Dorman (OE Solutions) Door Trim

Rugged Ridge Door Trim


Related Parts Of Auto Door Trim

To customize the look of your truck by adding a decorative yet protective layer to the body parts that are vulnerable to damage and enhance their appearance consider other such Chrome Trim parts:

 

Total Cost And Repair Time For Auto Door Trim

These are protective moldings on every part of the vehicle and are sacrificial elements that serve to protect the bodywork and paint of the vehicle from scratches, dings and dents and hence require no maintenance but replacement after prolonged use. The Door Trims can be found in many different materials like ABS plastic, polished stainless steel, rubber or chrome-plated and the price may vary accordingly. Smaller trim pieces can be about 10$ and go up to 200$ for bigger, more decorative and protective trims.

How To Change The Auto Door Trim?

Follow along these steps for an easy removal process of the door trim pieces on the vehicle:

 

  • Use a plastic scraper and insert it between the trim piece and the door and gently scrape off the moulding from the tape underneath. This will require a little persistence but should come right off. Alternatively, you can use a heat gun or a hairdryer to heat the surface of the moulding which will warm up the glue and help reduce the effort required to remove the it
  • Once the trim is off, and if the tape is still adhered to the surface of the vehicle, use a plastic scraper to remove all the gunk before installing the new door trim.
  • To apply the new trim, use 3M double-sided tape and stick the moulding in line with the tape. Apply a little pressure to make sure the adhesion is strong.
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John Framigllia
Technical Writer
Our technical writer is known for simplifying automotive parts and services. Intuitive with various vehicles and manufacturers, he knows how to simplify complicated problems.