I want to do suede door panels

[08scion]

I want to do suede door panels. How do i go about doing this? I can get the fabric, but i dono how to cut it right or who to have install it. I want to do the area around the back seats as well. Any and everything helps. thanks everyone.

[Redneck4csa]

Mengsta would be the man to talk to...http://www.club-tc.com/forums/vbclas...php?do=ad&id=6

[StreetBrawler89]

go to your local car customization store, they can hellp. If you cant find it then follow all the guys with a boom boom boom coming from the trunk. The door panels have nowhere to tuck the new material so your shop is going to have to cut slits in the door panel and pull it throught than cut it off and bolt it to the interior of the panel. I have never seen suede but a member of the local group has katskinz which looks sick, expect to pay around 500 for the work.

[Mengsta]

Thanks for mentioning my name Redneck!

Anyway shops will re-wrap your door panels and they might charge around 400 bucks or so. Or you can do it yourself for like 30 bucks. Or you can let me do it for way less than shops do, if you're located in the Bay Area, California. So far I have done about 9 panels, all are Tc's. My latest client had imitation Gucci fabric, which looked awesome in my opinion. Those pics listed are of my own vehicle, which is of course my first job. I chose for a subtle grey just to match my seats, but you can pick any fabric you like.

To be honest you should do it yourself man! Save some money and learn something really new! Im not here to get money, just to help you guys out. Basically all you need is a Dremel and a automatic screw driver. Takes about eight hours for all four panels, if its your first time. Dont let a shop charge you 400 bucks.

I can write up a detailed DIY later on, I just have alot of duties for the store right now. You guys can call me anytime during business hours and I can explain how to do it. The number listed is my toll free direct number.

-Tony

[08scion]

i would REALLY appreciate some detailed instructions. I am all about doing things myself. I love to work on my car. the only thing is i just don't want to screw something up. But if you could write up some instructions for me it would be extremely appreciated. thank you, and i will spread your name as much as possible.
~Ty

[chyz-dad]

I did my headliner and pillars myself..it was fun..and never racking at the same time...

I have been eyeballin my doors now though...I am wanting them to look like the rest of the interior...looks like we will both be needing a write up...I will keep my eye on this thread..

[Mengsta]

Ok I could write a detailed DIY with pics on each step, but I'm still really busy on the website.

So Ill try my best to explain it: Having a friend help you would be best.

You will need:
-A dremel is best, maybe a small saw can work.
-basic screw driver
-fabric
-a friend
-a powertool so you can drill screws in
-3M spray adhesive works best. Or DEI high temp spray.
-Self-tapping screws. and some washers. (washer size is 3/16)

1. Remove door panels, there should be a diy on here on how to remove the door panels but it is REALLY easy. There should be ONE screw behind the door lever. Then you need to pop off the cover on the door handle/arm rest thingy. (The handle with the circle on the bottom) All you gotta do is pull. There should be TWO screws revealed. Pop off the triangular black cover that is on the corner of the door between the window and the door panel. With all three screws revealed, all you need to do is slowly pull and jimmy the door off. The door is now held on by a series of plastic snap clips. I beleive about 8 or so, all you gotta do is pull on the right spots, stop from a corner and work your way.
Once the clips are off, a plug for the power windows etc will be revealed, just press on the clip and remove it.

2. Once the whole door panel is removed, just take a look at the back, and from common sense im pretty sure you can tell how its put together. The midsection of the door panel is held on by a series of plastic welds that are probably yellowy. Just use a dremel and straight cut the welds off. DO NOT cut the actual door panel, Just the plastic welds that are spewing out. Once you do this the mid section should be available for removal.

3. Now you can just lay your fabric over, and slowly use the spray glue to attach it onto the midsection. I choose to leave the factory door panel material ontact because its more simple, and it provides a cusion, so once you lay wtv fabric you want, it will feel more plush and soft. You want to start at one end and slowly add spray glu in increments of about an inch or two. Going slow and in one direction prevents air bubbles or wrinkles. Just take your time, spray glue is not super strong in the beginning, so once you mess up just try again. I used 3M on mine, but have used DEI hi temp spray on customers. Both are fine, you just want a strong spray adhesive that wont fail during hi temperatures. But you dont want super industrial that might soak through or cause discoloring. ALWAYS use more fabric then you think you need. So once you're done glueing it on, just slowly cut off the excess fabric. You want to fully wrap the peice, so whereever you see the regular fabric, you gotta wrap over.

4. To put back the mid section door panel. Just place the midsection back into its grooves and use a self tapping screw with some washers to drill into the existing spots where the welds were on. With a power tool, the self tapping screw sshould be able drill itself in easily. If placed with a good sized washer, it should securely hold the panels in palce. Just do this for all the spots that you dremeled off.

5. Now just snap the door panel back in place and voila! You should have no original black fabric sticking out and it should look really flush and professional. By accessing the actual mid section door panel and doing the job, it should look extremely better then the other way. Which is not removing the mid section, glueing the fabric over and just using a small blade and poking in the fabric into the creases. Now just install the door panel back onto the door and plug in the power.

The write up was for the two front doors. Removing the rears are a bit similar and not difficult at all. lol and again you could call me if your attempting it and you come across a problem.

Please pull off the door panel first before you buy the screws. Just use your judgement to see which size screws would work best. I dont have access to my screw bag, Im still at work. But I always use washer size is 3/16

[chyz-dad]

I will start mine next weekend once it quits raining here in Florida, and I need to get back from Tampa also....I will post pics of finished job....

[08scion]

thank you so much man, i really appreciate it. I think i'll do mine soon too and i'll try to get some pics up as well. Expect a call from me when im sitting there going WHAT DO I DO?! lol. but thank you for taking the time to write that up.
~Ty

[Mengsta]

No problem. Haha yeah I dont mind if you call for the advice, I'll try my best to help.

Have you already picked out the fabric?

[08scion]

no not yet. I plan on doing orange suede. I hear its really expensive though. I know orange sounds ugly, but it will match the gauge lights and some other things i've done with the car, so we'll see. I plan on just going to my local fabric store is there any place special i should go? how much will i need to do the front doors and the areas in the back seats?

[Mengsta]

Hmm I fergot the exact measurements, but its easy to find out with a tape measure.

I personally went to both Hancock's and Jo-Anns. Jo-Anns is where I ended up buying mine. Both stores are good.

[08scion]

is it pretty expensive, i know suede isn't cheap

[Mengsta]

Well at typical fabric stores, you wont find REAL suede. Its really all just imitation suede. Still feels and looks really good though, most people cant really tell the difference. So with that being said, its actually cheap. Usually like 5 bucks a foot. And a roll of fabric is usually really high, I think 4 feet. Just visit a Jo-Ann's, you'll find what you need.

[08scion]

alright cool thank you. Im so pumped, lol, its going to be real nice i hope

[O5_TRD_tC]

Mengsta panel looks so clean!

[navylife59]

By your permission (assumed) I set you up with a DIY. When you have time, can you please finish it with pics? Just copy my post, mark it up, add pics and repost. That way I can erase myself off it.

http://www.club-tc.com/forums/interi...html#post31623

[Mengsta]

Yes, I'll definitely take pics one day, I'm still swamped with tasks on the website.

[navylife59]

It's good to be busy. I just spoke with Kenny Tran about this last week. He said that his business has been booming since the economy went bad. People are taking solace in their pastimes.

[Mengsta]

Thats awesome to hear! Yeah my store has recently opened, All i need is more traffic.