Dbmanthe

I've got a 96 Half ton and the panels that hold the window switches and power door lock switches have broken. But it isn't the black plastic, it's the tab BELOW the black plastic that's actually broken. There is a screw that goes through the black plastic panel the holds the switches and it's supposed to screw into i think a tab that is part of the entire door panel. Soi priced the entire door panel and I'm not going to replace the entire piece just because of a little broken tab but I also am not sure how to improve the pre-existing design. Any thoughts out there?

Steve83

It's a very common problem, and there are no direct-replacement door panels available. The closest are ~$650ea and they aren't the same shape, layout, or surfaces.

AFAIK, there is no "this works perfectly every time and looks like original" fix for broken panels. Some people rebuild the broken tabs with epoxy; some screw metal plates to whatever remains to try to fill in where the tabs were; some re-mold the broken "blister" out of fiberglass & then re-upholster it... You're pretty much on your own. If you live near a large city with specialists in plastic or fiberglass (like boats, stereo speaker enclosures, Corvettes, maybe ski repair...), you might find someone who could do it for you, but it'll probably be $$$.

miguel.in.az

Scrounge your local junkyards or eBay for some used OE panels, my driver's door is just as beat up

David Lyons

Far as I know my interior is Regatta blue (87), my panels are in ok shape but faded in places. Is there a product that can re-stain or re color them?

Dbmanthe

Think LMC has something for that

95-302

My door panels have the same piece broken. I just push the window switches down and they stay put without any problem. No one has noticed unless it’s printed out.

As for the faded fabric, you can look up the color codes for your interior and find a color match paint that should work fine at most auto parts stores. If they don’t have it handy, orileys will mix paint as well.