after dark

iTrader: (5)

I just bought an '02 Artic White WS6 and the door panels have not started cracking yet, nor show any signs of starting to. I know they will at some point...So to prevent it from happening, is it just removing the staples as stated above or are there other preventative measures to take?

metalmechanic

Yep, mine was on crack at 9,000 miles

lakeratiam

See post 58 of this thread. The author on the link makes sense to me. He feels the door panels crack due to stress on the panel where the metal hanger that the door panel "hangs" on starts and stops. IMO it also has something to do with the re-enforcment in the vinyl. I did this process to my 95 Formula and so far, so good. But then again they weren't cracked when I did this. I think thermal expansion or more likely thermal contraction and UV degradation is at play as well. If the material can "float" somewhat on the panel, then it is free to expand and contract at will with out binding or pulling itself apart, ie: cracking. SO by all means, PULL THOSE STAPLES! IMHO some engineering or testing went wrong and we are seeing the result.

JrodCamaro

It's so tempting to do this mod to keep it from cracking, but I have a feeling I would screw it up more than the good I would do. Passenger side is cracked all the way, drivers isn't very far actually. 106,XXX on the car. I put the windows down and tops off every chance I get, so I'll just have to suck it up

teamfbody

u r not alone

JrodCamaro

It's gonna aggrivate me because I know that EVERYBODY that will ride with me will ask about it, but thankfully I don't have to look at it while driving. It's right next to the seat on mine. I would consider getting new panels and then doing the mod so they wouldn't crack, but hearing ~$550 for panels is outrageous. Figure all around it's 75% (100% on one side 50% on the other) so not much more to go and can't exactly look any worse Paint job sounds like more of an enticing appearance mod to me

hotrodhartley

thanks everyone for all the posts abt this i have followed it and it helped me out alot

WeVie

Glad to see I am not the only one. Both of mine are cracked in the same place

Brad@NANO Direct

iTrader: (18)

Me too, just bought a 2000 t/a both sides cracked.

oh1ws6

Both of the firebirds I've had were cracked in the same spot, the top left panel by the seat. My t/a was cracked when I bought it with 36k miles on it. I went ahead and pulled the staples out of both sides to keep it from doing it any more than it already has. Thats the one thing that drives me crazy about my car. The rest of the interior and car is flawless but I just cant bring myself to pay for a new one.

CHADsterss

156,000 Miles and no cracks

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

Look on the back side of your panels and you'll see them starting...

CHADsterss

With my luck if I took the panels off they would just fall apart lmao

LSX Performance

Does anyone know the part numbers for both the drivers and passenger door panel?

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

There are many different ones, depending on the year and interior.

69TA

iTrader: (263)

what for?
they are like 400-500 each from GM

Zabo

iTrader: (3)

Just out of curiosity, if I had a late model T/A and found door panels from an earlier car I've been told those earlier MY panels are actually of a thicker plastic material as well, lending to a bit more strength. Is this just a wild claim or is there some validity?

Also, anyone know about the Neutral interiors being any different from 1994/1995 and 2000?

Dayhoff35

iTrader: (11)

well this will **** you guys off but 236k on mine and no cracks, the staples will be coming out soon though!

ZeeTwentyFate

iTrader: (19)

had a 99 ta with 138k on it and no cracks, bought another 99 ta last week and both sides are done, my friends 99 and another friends 98, all the same... 1-3" cracks mine being the worst, i however will be repairing it soon

xenergyx

iTrader: (3)

im going to get some uber strong epoxy to fix mine that way itll never split further mine look perfectly straignt on both sides and theirs a plastic clip on each of the leading edges super annoying everytime i take the panel off my eyes rivet on it >.< stupid eyesore