Door Panel Removal

17399 Views 28 Replies 16 Participants Last post by goldmax, 3 mo ago

Alfa4CLover

Discussion Starter · Jan 24, 2015

6

Having this old habit of taking things apart, I decided to remove the door panel off the 4C and see whats behind it :smile2:

You need to remove 5 Torx screws (4 on pull handle and 1 door handle behind plastic cover)... This is not my panel... mine is not leather.

Then its just a matter of pulling the panel off. I started from the lower front end next to speaker... using 'gentle' force. No tools used here, just pulled along lower side clockwise until the whole panel came off. Watch out for cables and door handle latch though. Make sure you pull towards you and not up or down as not break any push tabs.

And this is the panel off...

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Tallinn

· #2 · Jan 24, 2015

Awesome! I love to see how things look underneath but I'm to chicken to take them apart myself.

The Real Cvh

· #3 · Jan 24, 2015

As long as you put it back together without any spare bits left over.

Alfa4CLover

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 24, 2015

The Real Cvh said:
As long as you put it back together without any spare bits left over.

Everything just snaps back in place. Its very easy to do.

I doubt these pushin rivets or screws will last 3 or 4 attempts though.

Racer Z

· #5 · Jan 24, 2015

When I was working as an Auto Stereo Installer, we had a tool we called a "panel popper". It was like a wide putty knife with a notch in it to go around the panel clips. This helps to not bend or break the panel.

Did you roll the bottom edge of the panel away from the frame a few inches, then lift straight up to release it at the window?

The speaker looks as cheap as it sounds. I'd like to see what's behind the speaker. How deep is it? What are my options for a real speaker?

Tweeter must be mounted to the panel. I don't see it on the door frame.

Alfa4CLover

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 24, 2015

Racer Z said:
When I was working as an Auto Stereo Installer, we had a tool we called a "panel popper". It was like a wide putty knife with a notch in it to go around the panel clips. This helps to not bend or break the panel.

Did you roll the bottom edge of the panel away from the frame a few inches, then lift straight up to release it at the window?

The speaker looks as cheap as it sounds. I'd like to see what's behind the speaker. How deep is it? What are my options for a real speaker?

Tweeter must be mounted to the panel. I don't see it on the door frame.

I assume the panel popper would make the job easier as it would apply the right amount of force. I just move my hand right to left pulling gently. Seven push in screws.

I didn't have to raise or lift the panel to release it. It just came out straight with nothing blocking it. I saw some video of panel removal on Youtube and I know what you mean. This is just much easier.

Now that you mention it... I didn't notice the window assembly or wiring. Probably behind the white thin foam like film on the door.

And yes... those must be the cheapest speakers I have ever seen. I will take it to local shop and see what speakers we can fix here. But first I need to get new screws just to be safe.

Alfa4CLover

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 24, 2015

The speakers seem to be made by a company called ASK.

Never heard of them before. ASK Group

1-SPYD/AR

· #8 · Jan 25, 2015

Excellent love these posts and vids of how its made/how do they do that

Love to let others go first, like Tallinn too chicken, without fail will have bits over

Can you do step by step bonnet removal next Alfa4Clover

and its not even your car:surprise:

Alfa4CLover

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 25, 2015

1-SPYD/AR said:
Excellent love these posts and vids of how its made/how do they do that

Love to let others go first, like Tallinn too chicken, without fail will have bits over

Can you do step by step bonnet removal next Alfa4Clover

and its not even your car:surprise:

I think I'll give the honor to someone else to do a 'bonnet removal'... unless like you said I find someone else's car to sacrifice.>

fatspur

· #10 · Jan 25, 2015

1-SPYD/AR said:
Excellent love these posts and vids of how its made/how do they do that

Love to let others go first, like Tallinn too chicken, without fail will have bits over

Can you do step by step bonnet removal next Alfa4Clover

and its not even your car:surprise:

already seen this on a thread somewhere. God knows where though!

Racer Z

· #11 · Jan 25, 2015

Alfa4CLover said:
I assume the panel popper would make the job easier as it would apply the right amount of force. I just move my hand right to left pulling gently. Seven push in screws.

The tool slips up under the panel without flexing the panel, then pressure can be applied more evenly. As the panel ages, it becomes more delicate. In working on older cars, the panel breaks quite easily without a tool.

Sort of a cheap tool, but you get the idea here. They are available in other styles.

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kmarei

· #12 · Jan 26, 2015

I already have a set of panel removal tools
looks like the one above, but its plastic
metal tends to bend any plastic parts it comes in contact with
plastic vs plastic means there is give on both sides
metal vs plastic means the give is only on the plastic side, which marrs it

kmarei

· #13 · Jan 26, 2015

Alfa4CLover said:
Everything just snaps back in place. Its very easy to do.

I doubt these pushin rivets or screws will last 3 or 4 attempts though.

thank you so much for this

I already have a set of replacement speakers
but I was waiting for someone to do this so I don't damage my car

I like the foam surround on the speaker grill that attaches to the door panel
that means when its installed, there is an air tight seal around the speaker, which means better bass

kmarei

· #14 · Jan 26, 2015

anyone have any clue what type of screws hold the grey plastic speaker enclosure?
never seen those before
are they torx with some extra slits?

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kmarei

· #15 · Jan 26, 2015

this is the trim panel remover I bought

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-PCS-New-S...092?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c9562824c

SpiderNick

· #16 · Aug 11, 2017 (Edited)

2

Hi,

Does anyone know how to remove the tweeter grills from the door card ?
I am going to Carbon Skin them but I really need to remove the grills to ensure a perfect job.
Its annoying as everything else comes off easily !

Nick

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MDPharaoh

· #17 · Aug 18, 2017

How did you pull? What did you grip onto to pull? I'm having no luck.

MDPharaoh

· #18 · Aug 18, 2017

Okay so I used a screwdriver to pry until my hands could fit in between the pried space and removed all the clips but one. There seems to be something rather large that I can't see to detach. It's that little circle in the photo. Any suggestions from anyone?

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Docron

· #19 · Aug 18, 2017

Here's a reference picture of a door without the panel. Maybe you can see what that small disc in your picture correlates to.

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Docron

· #20 · Aug 18, 2017

2

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