another door panel upgrade!

[deathegg]

So, if you see the current post "carpeted door panels" you saw my "new" Mazda MPV door pockets. Fit really nice! But I didn't show you the rest of the door upgrade.. so here you go!

[MONSOON]

Oooh I kind of like that. How is the upper part held in place. Bolted from the backside of the door panel or through the front and into the metal? Did you drill a pilot hole before you bolted it down if its through the front?

[gottafesty]

That's pretty sharp. Is it out of the MPV also?

[festivaWES]

I'm diggin' that armrest also...very sharp!

[collegeboi]

yah let us know how you did the upper arm rest

[JPT]

Something else to add to my "Must Have" list

[leapin]

Looks comfortable!

[deathegg]

yes, it is comfortable!
They are from a Honda Accord. ( the 4 door with the flip-up headlights... mid '80's)
Had to use a combination of the supplied bolt/screw holes, plus a bit of modification to the armrest itself.


in the photo, you can see 3 big screws sticking up through the armrest at an angle, then you can see 3 small flat-head phillips screws screwed in from behind (the rear of the door panel)

First, to attach it to the door panel, the mounting points for those 3 big screws need to be filed down flush with the backside of the armrest. They're plastic, and round, and partway imbedded in the back, but they don't allow the armrest to rest flush with the panel if you don't trim them down. (I suppose you could cut holes in the door panels, but i didn't want to do that). I just clipped them off with a pair of wire cutters. The only one of those 3 screws I had to use is the one on the far left (the very top of the armrest).

I then positioned it on the door panel, making sure it was at the same height as the orig rest, plus making sure it was level. When i positioned it, i left those 3 small phillips screws on, and pressed it hard against the door panel. The screw heads left indentations; and you just drill the holes there! I also drilled the hole for the screw (top left in the pic)

I then attached the armrest to the door panel using those screws, plus one more for good measure into that yellow foam.

I put the door panel in position, inserted a pencil in that top-left hole, which marked the position in the inner METAL door panel (to which all this is attached) where i should drill the hole.

Took the panel back off, drilled the hole, re-installed the door panel all the way, then screwed in that one big screw, which really holds the armrest on firmly.

Whew! quite a lot of work, but i think it worked out fine. Also, both armrests were only $4 each!
Also, if any of you have power windows, these armrests also come with built-in power window switches (removable, which is what i did).