I broke the door panel

[BP_93explorer]

Any way to glue that back? That brown looking stuff was my last attempt but it didn't last. It only had one screw holding it in. The other one would never stay.

 

[DeRocha]

Ouch... It looks to me like the root cause of your problem is worn door hinges. When they are worn it causes you to pull the crap out of the door handle to try and shut the door.. If this is the case you will need to fix the hinges 1st or you'll keep destroying the door handles. If you haven't already taken a peek click here for the door hinge replacement thread..

 

[BP_93explorer]

Actually my seatbelt was caught in the door and like the dumbass I am I opened the door going down the highway. Twice. First time didn't work. Second time the belt tightened but when I pull the door back it ripped the handle off. I don't usually have to slam the door at all. I accidentally used that broken handle to shut the door today.

 

[Masterd]

Thats an easy fix. You just need to buy some replacement handles from ebay or the dealer, pull the panels, and clean out the remnants and put the new handles on.

They come melted in from the factory, and the replacements come with black clips, but I opted to melt mine back on.

 

[Tbars4]

...or you can look at http://lmctruck.com ...

 

[BP_93explorer]

I wasn't even aware you could replace just that part. Thanks. The rest of the panel is great shape. Quick question about one on Ebay. It says gray but the picture looks like a dark gray. Did they come in dark and light gray?

Ebay Link

 

[Masterd]

As far as I know, theyre only offered in one shade of gray.

Mine matched up 100%

 

[BP_93explorer]

They come melted in from the factory, and the replacements come with black clips, but I opted to melt mine back on.

I'm finally getting around to doing this. I wasn't sure what you meant by melting them in. Now that I have the door panel off I see what you mean. How do you melt it in? I didn't want to put an open flame to it without asking first

 

[Glen4X4]

When my 92 sports were broke, I took them out of another door by carefully prying on the back of the panel to snap it off then tried to pop off all the melted portions then used expoxy to put the handle portion back in and afterwards took a torch to the back of the door panel. And they worked great they didn't pop off the whole time I had it.

 

[BP_93explorer]

I went ahead and used the brackets. It felt pretty secure. Now onto the next problem. None of the door panel retainers hold the panel on anymore. I think thats what they are called. The guy at Pep Boys was no help as usual. I grabbed what looked close but they didn't work. Can anybody point me in the right direction?

 

[Hawkmn]

Any Auto body shop can and/or will have them. They are common retainer clips. Or hit your local Napa with one from yours and they can match it up to one in their auto parts supply book. Looking in my book now, I should have a part number for you in a few mins.

 

[Hawkmn]

Ford N807721-S Ford Explorer 1993-On Head Diameter 5/8. Stem Length 3/4. Stem Diameter 3/8. Black Nylon

 

[BP_93explorer]

Awesome, thank you.

 

[Hawkmn]

You are very welcome

I have had to replace the pannels on my 94 (both sides front) already. Even keep a spare incase they snap again. Those handles are just one of the weak points of the doors, well that and those thin plastick rod clips.

 

[leefhead]

just get a new, longer screw, screw it back in, then apply some glue around it, thats what i did, doesnt look too bad, and works perfect. just make sure the screws arent too long so your window cant go up and down...also if you put a small washer on the screw, it'll prevent the part cracking on the handel bezel where the screw head is.

 

[ma96782]

I'm finally getting around to doing this. I wasn't sure what you meant by melting them in. Now that I have the door panel off I see what you mean. How do you melt it in? I didn't want to put an open flame to it without asking first

I used a (large headed) soldering iron to melt the tabs. Rather than, the clips.

Aloha, Mark