DogNutz

iTrader: (6)

Both of mine cracked all the way through! 30,000 miles. They have been that way since 12,000 miles.

prince xizor

iTrader: (2)

Yay! I am not going to get any points deducted at the TA nationals this year. That is one good thing about the door cracks. Now I just have to take off the door panel
1) change window motors
2) fix the crack
3) Install new speakers.
Might as well get as much stuff done at once as possible

01FbTaWs6

iTrader: (12)

Mine is cracked from the window down to the leather on the drivers side.

BANDITCAR

I had the same problem with my Driverside I noticed last year. the crack was only like 1/2inch long and I fixed it before it could get any worse. Didn't have crack on the passenger side but I reinforced that one as well so it wouldn't crack.

The crack is caused by a design flaw. The plastic panel expands and contracts with temperature changes. The rubber window trim does not because it has a steel insert inside of it to keep it rigid. When the panel contracts, the trim doesn't give any and ends up pulling apart the panel at that weak point. You have to adjust the last 3 staples in the panel to give way a bit for temp changes.

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

I've seen some custom vehicles with a simple molded plastic cover over the top of the door panel and it was covered in leather, maybe with a pleated design on the side of it. Maybe we could do something like that. First reinforce the crack to keep it from getting larger and then covering that portion of the door panel with a similar color fabric. Maybe suede or something. You could take it one step further and have the material embroidered with a name or logo so it doesn't look like a baindaid, and instead, like some kind of custom cover.

katrina firebird

i have a 2000 pewter bird,59k and i noticed the black trim around window is raised up in one spot.

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

Here are some pics of the panels I mentioned above. Keep in mind these were taken at night through a closed window with a flash! I'm surprised they came out at all.



The overall shape.


I think something like this could be done on the F-bodies.

FullBoreTA

iTrader: (1)

Mine is cracked identically and I had sub-frames and STB, as well. Mine cracked when my big fat *** was pushing down in that area with my hand.

ls1snakebiter

My driver's side cracked at about 40,000 miles after getting out of storage over winter. Any one with a 4th Gen needs to take there panels off and put a support piece on the back side in the rear. Because a replacement panel is like $600 at the dealer someone told me

BrianWS6

iTrader: (2)

My WS6 driver's side panel cracked when I was sitting in the car cleaning the center console. I was pretty mad because that car only had 24,000 miles at the time and was in perfect condition.

pontiacguy84

iTrader: (1)

Bought my 99 formula a month ago, had the cracks on both sides when i bought it.

Darthfuzzy

Anyone have any more info on whether GM will actually consider replacing these? I just got my windows tinted, and now because of the crack my window squeaks...and I tried to figure out what was causing it...it was indeed the crack because when I "pushed" it back into original position the squeak stopped...

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

Sure they will replace them,

for $600ea.! Ha ha.

GM isn't going to pay squat.

Best thing to do is reinforce it, then cover it.

Darthfuzzy

I guess...I just remember some one mentioning a class action suit awhile ago. It's quite aggrovating to realize that the crack is a mass problem and is now spawning another problem on the car.

RedWS6 00

I guess I ought to keep an eye on mine, its done 124,000 miles, and had the panels off a couple of times to replace the window motors, have even climbed out the window a couple of times due to tight parking spaces. However since 86,000 miles it dosn't see much more than 2 weeks of direct sunlight per year.

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

Best to reinforce it from behind right now, before it cracks.

BizZzatch350

iTrader: (33)

Ouch didnt know they crack that bad, my Door pannels havent cracke and their 13 years old.

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

The older panels seem more robust. It's the LS1 ones that tend to crack easily.

jdiddyws6

iTrader: (5)

I've got an 00 t/a ws6 with 63k, and my driver side was split when i got it, and the passenger split later....we need to figure out something to do about this

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

Does anyone know if the entire door panel can be covered in some kind of material?