Changing integra door pannel inserts...
 

Just wondering if anyone has tried to change the door pannel inserts on their own. (By this I mean the inserts that people usually change to red fabric or carbon fiber.)

I've seen a couple diy's on it but just wondering if anyones tried doing it and how hard it is to cut out the old inserts and reupolster the new ones.

It seems most people just do it right over top of the old one but I found some carbon fiber looking vinyl from years ago and want to make use of it but it looks a little thick so i might have to cut out the old one.

Unlike civic ones, the teg's door panel fabric is not made to be easily separated. The entire panel is one piece, vs the others where the ends of the fabric are attached at a seam. For these you physically have to cut the material away and glue the new stuff very neatly.

Like Dave just pointed out but there is a chance of separating it just enough to shove the fabric in there but not by much.

Dave - Ya I noticed that i remember my old civic the door panels looked easier to work on, but someone did it for me when i bought it...which is what puzzled me as to how to effectively do this on my teg.

Paul - would I have to separate it from the rear of the door panel or the front?

Hmmm....I wonder how hard it would be to cut the old stuff away. Do either of you know if the vinyl is actually glued down or just fitted in place? if its glued down I've gotta chalk some extra time on the project...

The trouble is there is no separation, that's the difference btwn the integra panels and the civic ones. The ABS plastic the panels are made of and all the backing is one piece. It's a lot more difficult than with civic panels.

It's all attached with a fairly strong adhesive. You have to literally filet the thing lol

if you want, take my integra door panels that are sitting around collecting dust. the fabric is already off. Might be easier to work on and this way you can take your time and not roll without door panels lol

$20 for both?

let me know.

That's not a bad idea either Nizmo..check ur mailbox.

The fabric fell out of mine. It basically started to come out... Then it came out. It still had its form and bend to the edge so i put crazy clue in the crack and slipped it carefulyl back in. It's been fine for monhts and I can't tug it out. I can't imagine it being to hard to switch. Infact this si a good thread because I may have to do this soon.

I'm going to be redoing my panels for the third time this summer. I'm still not as happy with them as I thought I'd be.

Probably the most important part of any of the work to be done is sizing the material you're putting in the insert properly so it doesn't bubble or stretch. And doing the edges is important to be done clean, otherwise you'll nit-pick at the imperfections all the time.

redoing the bride fabric?? i looked so clean.

sooooo im definitly coming over and doing my alongside you lol :p

Still playing with ideas haha. You're more than welcome to.

David...i say do it in Red Recaro Fabric, or Black. That would be awesome

I tore mine out. What a bitch of a job. I had my doors airbrushed.

I will be replacing the fabric with PADDED black suede.

Not sure if this will help you but here is my plan (in my head anyway - might be different when i acutally get to it) is to lay out the fabric I need - enough to completely cover the insert with a couple EXTRA inches for good measure.
Next, glue on the door insert spot some thin foam padding. THIN. a CM (or 2 if I'm really bold - tappered to 1cm near the edges if I'm REALLY good/creative.) Cover the insert completely leaving a mm or 2 and cut it to shape nicely with a utility knife.
Next, when I'm sure the glue is good and dry, I will glue to the foam the suede, making sure it's neat and tight and smooth and wait for that to dry.
Next, I will put some glue along the crevice/seam/crack/groove/thingy around the edges and little by little neatly tuck in the suede using a flat head screw driver or butter knife or the like.
NEXT, again when I'm sure it's good and dry, use the utility knife to trim around the groove to make it neat and clean.
Finally, to hide any imperfections, take some sort of thick string (thick enough to fit nice and clean in the seam/groove) and glue this along the seam to finish it.
In my case, the string will be red to match the red stiching on my black suede Recarro's.
Will post some pics of my finished project if SPRING ever arrives.

^^^ looking forward to the pics/progress.