Are there clips or something that wears out over time on the door panels? They dont seem to have anything to hook on to. They are attached tightly at the bottom of the door.

What year car is it?
The plastic, upper trim(built-in clips) breaks over time, and the top part of the door panel will flop...my passenger side is broken, so it rattles, and drives me nuts!
Adams' Apple2009-08-27 20:11:15

94, I may pull the whole panel off just to see what is broke or missing.

  Hey you fine folks, flandy 54 here.  I have the same situation with my 96 lt4 on the drivers side.  Does anyone have a manual that shows how many screws and push in fasteners are used to hold a C-4 door panel on?  Kinda looks like you undu the bottom and slide the top down into some kind of retainer on the door once you get it in the backside weatherstripping ,then do the lower retainers.  Anyone have ant ideas.  Thanks-Flandy.

On my 95, it's 5 on bottom, 1 in the armrest, then 3 in the handle assy (bezel).  Be careful with handle assy, don't force out, pry it gently, there is a connector for courtesy light back there plus window controls.  Then you can jockey the whole panel up and out.   You might as well replace window wipers while you have it apart and tighten the mirror.

Hi folks, flandy here.  I got mine to stay in place on Tues., I was able to pull the panel uo abd over the steel door frame.  Then I was finally able to get the top of the panel to seat over the metal retaines in the door.  The hardest part was to get the panel to seat in the weatherstrip.  Didn't have to move a screw or retainer, just a small slotted screwdrive to open the weatherstrip.  Once in place just push down to seat, I got lucky, Thank-God.  Good to go-Phil

Hi there, I have the same problem with my '89 Conv.  Someone tried to take the door panel out with a crowbar I think.  Anyway, they broke the top plastic trim pretty badly and now I cannot get it to stay in place.  I found an outfit that sells the trim for a Coupe but not for a Conv.  Just how much different are they ?  Anyone else been able to find replacement parts ?
    Thanks..
       

Maybe this problem is more common than I thought. I have an '85 coupe and the top of the door panels on both sides is loose and flops around a bit. I have lifted and looked inside and it appears that the screw holes in the body material under the panels has stripped out. As i am preparing to buy and install new interior panels soon, is there anything that I can, or should, do to prepare these stripped out holes for new screws, so that when I install the new panels I can be rid of rattles and loose door molding?

Also...any tips to know before I begin? I've only been a vette owner for about 16 months

brian, just a question---do you have the inner window strip on the panel? the outer window seal is attached to the body and inner seal is rivetted on the door panel. no screws up top that i know of (at least on my 90).