I'm trying to find out where I can purchase a driver and passenger side door panels for a 96 eldorado....just now finding out they are broken :rant2: ....I was told Cadillace doesn't make them anymore and the place where I can purchase them from cost $1000 each....any other places I can check...thanks
door panels
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Check out the wrecking yards is your best bet. Look for ones that specialize in GM parts and there are always some that specialize in Cadillac parts. Some hook up to a nationwide network that can track it down for you. The nice thing is that Cadillac just had a few options on interior colors so it's likely if you find one it may match up. Do a search on the internet for wrecking yards also and then start calling. Good luck.eldorado7 said:
Cadillac may not make them anymore, but I'm sure they're still available--for a pretty penny.eldorado7 said:
The problem, you will find, is that they may break again. The problem is with such a long heavy door, the panel needs more than just plastic hooks on plastic panel backing, to hold it in place. I'm thinking of re-engineering them on my car, but that won't be anytime soon. They are 90degree plastic tabs with a small lip on them. They latch on (up-down). Apparently a lot of folks pull on them, breaking them instantly.
There are salvage yards that are specifically for Cadillacs out there. Just look it up on Yahoo and you'll get alot of hits. Good luck and let us know how it went.
There a whole slew of salvage yards on the internet. Where as, you can enter a request online and have several responses with pricing and whatnot. If you go this route, it pays to hang on a few days. I used this method one time to locate a grille for an older explorer that ford no longer offered. Got an offer not ever 30 minutes after I sent my request. Ended up buying it. But For teh next week I continued getting offers. One cheaper than the next. Should have waited. bah
If you replace the plastic anchor in the door near the latch with sheet metal pop riveted over that opening, drill and tap a hole where the screw goes it will work well. The bottom will not cause any more problems after the panel is secured this way. The panel only needs two lateral mounts to be functional.
I think that there is also Tech Service Bulletin on a repair kit for the door panels: 81-05-01 Apr 98 Door Trim-New Tool and Repair Procedure I fixed my 98 door panel that had also been damaged by someone working on the panels before I purchased the vehicle. Did not use the above, but designed fix using the plastic parts of an adjustable window blind. Great repair.
These two last repairs sound great. Pictures would be awesome, but of course also unreasonable. I have an issue with the driver side door. I had to use black silicone and it kind of helped, but that's not the right way.
So a sheet of metal riveted with a hole where the screw goes in... hard to envision that one. I thought mainly hooks held the panel in place?
Regarding an adjustable window blind... what parts? and where did u need them? I think my top hook (s) is missing, by the door seel, where it latches with the body (on the top rear corner of the door).
So a sheet of metal riveted with a hole where the screw goes in... hard to envision that one. I thought mainly hooks held the panel in place?
Regarding an adjustable window blind... what parts? and where did u need them? I think my top hook (s) is missing, by the door seel, where it latches with the body (on the top rear corner of the door).
MtFlight, I took the small sliding plastic parts from the track of the blind and turned them over. The angle of the hook was the same as the plastic blind slider. Used the hole in the slider to secure several sliders to the door panel in multiple places. Then pushed the panel in and down. The GM Factory Manual calls for the reverse when removing the panel (push in, up and away to disengage the hooks) Then completed the install by screwing in the bottom of the panel with the fasteners under the door carpet and in the switch cavity as usual (two screws). It is working like a charm. The 98 Eldo trim panel removal and replacement procedure is on page 8-1124 of the manual...wish the prior owner had read it. I originally thought that I would have to replace the whole panel at $400, but that was not necessary.
lry99eldo Could you e-mail it to me? my same screename @gmail dot comlry99eldo said:
MWA, would be great to get a picture of the hook sliders you're talking about... I'm going to home depot and hopefully someone there can help me determine what you're talking about lol.
You may not need NEW door panels. If the seam along the driver door is split (many of them do) you can pinch it back together with clamp(s) while using a heat gun and glue the mend the seam back together. When the panel has cooled you can remove the clamps. I used a welding clamp with a piece of sponge attached to the jaws to mend my driver door 1" seam split.eldorado7 said:
If you have divots gouged out, you can use regular body spot filler on those, then purchase Duplicolor dye to refinish the panel.
If there are hooks (attachments) broken away, there are a number of ways to repair those as noted previously.
You can spend a lot or a little. It is all up to you. There are used panels offered on eBay once in a while. You will most likely need the Duplicolor spray dye to match your interior though.
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