• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Door handle separating from door panel

  • Thread starter Thread starter stangbaba
  • Start date Start date Aug 6, 2020

stangbaba

Member
Jul 22, 2008
23
4
13
Aug 6, 2020
#1
  • Aug 6, 2020
  • #1
Hello guys. Is there any “fix” for this, besides maybe getting a new door panel? No screws are missing, the cluster is just separating from the panel. The passenger side is fine.

 

Attachments

  • 60F443A0-0D98-4188-AA0F-938059891B96.webp
    230.9 KB · Views: 489

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
5 Year Member
Aug 25, 2016
27,856
10,533
203
polk county florida
Aug 6, 2020
#2
  • Aug 6, 2020
  • #2
There should be a phillips head screw at the top of that piece and on the bottom toward the back at the bottom, also two bolts at the bottom behind tow round plugs that need to be removed.

Fox Body Mustang Door Panel Removal Video - LMR.com

Need to remove the door panel in your Fox Body Mustang? Watch our removal video here!
lmr.com
 

stangbaba

Member
Jul 22, 2008
23
4
13
Aug 6, 2020
#3
  • Aug 6, 2020
  • #3
General karthief said:
There should be a phillips head screw at the top of that piece and on the bottom toward the back at the bottom, also two bolts at the bottom behind tow round plugs that need to be removed.

Fox Body Mustang Door Panel Removal Video - LMR.com

Need to remove the door panel in your Fox Body Mustang? Watch our removal video here!
lmr.com
Click to expand...

Thanks, but I’m asking, is there any fix for it, or is the panel just sunken in and in need of replacing?
 

nickyb

I gotta say i never painted my nuts, Never Ever
15 Year Member
Apr 3, 2009
2,978
1,621
153
nevada
Aug 6, 2020
#4
  • Aug 6, 2020
  • #4
Check those bolts and screws,looks to have loosened up on you,or stripped out.
 
Reactions: Gs1987GT

Gs1987GT

Active Member
Sep 25, 2019
484
170
53
MidAtlantic
Aug 7, 2020
#5
  • Aug 7, 2020
  • #5
nickyb said:
Check those bolts and screws,looks to have loosened up on you,or stripped out.
Click to expand...

This. Remove it and see what condition the sockets for the screws are in on the door brackets themselves. As said one or more are stripped/ pulled out. Once you see what they look like you can figure out what needs done to repair the brackets so the screws will hold.
 

Mstng93SSP

You have a nice rear end there Dave.
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
2,993
3,500
184
Mililani, Hawaii
Aug 7, 2020
#6
  • Aug 7, 2020
  • #6
stangbaba said:
Thanks, but I’m asking, is there any fix for it, or is the panel just sunken in and in need of replacing?
Click to expand...


General karthief said:
There should be a phillips head screw at the top of that piece and on the bottom toward the back at the bottom, also two bolts at the bottom behind tow round plugs that need to be removed.

Fox Body Mustang Door Panel Removal Video - LMR.com

Need to remove the door panel in your Fox Body Mustang? Watch our removal video here!
lmr.com
Click to expand...

This was the fix ^^^^ The video was to familiarize you with the location of the screws holding the door handle on. When you remove the handle you can also check if the door panel has torn where the metal clips slide under it from the handle.

Chris
 
Reactions: General karthief

stangbaba

Member
Jul 22, 2008
23
4
13
Aug 7, 2020
#7
  • Aug 7, 2020
  • #7
Mstng93SSP said:
This was the fix ^^^^ The video was to familiarize you with the location of the screws holding the door handle on. When you remove the handle you can also check if the door panel has torn where the metal clips slide under it from the handle.

Chris
Click to expand...


Gotcha, you're right.

Thanks Chris!
 
Reactions: Mstng93SSP

stangbaba

Member
Jul 22, 2008
23
4
13
Aug 7, 2020
#8
  • Aug 7, 2020
  • #8
Mstng93SSP said:
This was the fix ^^^^ The video was to familiarize you with the location of the screws holding the door handle on. When you remove the handle you can also check if the door panel has torn where the metal clips slide under it from the handle.

Chris
Click to expand...


Of course, in true tinkering fashion, If I'm going to do anything to the doors, I might as well put some map pocket deletes on the panels, new bezels, armrests, and replace the speakers, right?
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
5 Year Member
Aug 25, 2016
27,856
10,533
203
polk county florida
Aug 7, 2020
#9
  • Aug 7, 2020
  • #9
Lets see,...
I post the 'fix'
and a video on how to take it apart......
And Chris gets the 'attaboy'
 

Mstng93SSP

You have a nice rear end there Dave.
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
2,993
3,500
184
Mililani, Hawaii
Aug 7, 2020
#10
  • Aug 7, 2020
  • #10
Yes that is how it works. Only when I screw up a reply do I defer blame to you my friend..

On a serious note don't do the map pocket "deletes", they look cheap to me. Just buy replacement map pockets and install them. If you mess it up, it is @General karthief fault.....

Chris
 
Last edited: Aug 7, 2020
Reactions: General karthief

Mstng93SSP

You have a nice rear end there Dave.
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
2,993
3,500
184
Mililani, Hawaii
Aug 7, 2020
#11
  • Aug 7, 2020
  • #11
I put them on my 90 GT. Here is before and after.



 
Reactions: 7991LXnSHO and General karthief

stangbaba

Member
Jul 22, 2008
23
4
13
Aug 9, 2020
#12
  • Aug 9, 2020
  • #12
Mstng93SSP said:
I put them on my 90 GT. Here is before and after.



Click to expand...

sorry man, and thank you for posting that vid!

I did manage to tighten the one screw and make it better. It’s not perfect, but better. I need to overhaul my doors.
 

7991LXnSHO

wanna catch the space herp
10 Year Member
Sep 1, 2010
7,387
2,745
194
Kearney, NE
Aug 11, 2020
#13
  • Aug 11, 2020
  • #13
stangbaba said:
Of course, in true tinkering fashion, If I'm going to do anything to the doors, I might as well put some map pocket deletes on the panels, new bezels, armrests, and replace the speakers, right?
Click to expand...
Do not forget to upgrade the power lock solenoids, and to clean and lube the latch mechanism. If you are in there to do it right, might as well finish it. I have replacement map pockets for next time, and plan on installing a second piece of elastic with the new ones.
 

stangbaba

Member
Jul 22, 2008
23
4
13
Mar 23, 2021
#14
  • Mar 23, 2021
  • #14
Reviving this old thread that I made. I put her away for the winter and brought her back out this week. I think I found the problem. This pic is of one the bottom screws on the armrest. Somehow this screw is in the all cock-eyed.

any ideas on how the heck I’m going to get that screw out of there?

 

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done
5 Year Member
Oct 4, 2020
5,463
2,892
173
Florida
Mar 24, 2021
#15
  • Mar 24, 2021
  • #15
There should be "push nuts" ( thats what I call them) there.. Remove your door panel and replace them... Should push off push new ones on..
 

stangbaba

Member
Jul 22, 2008
23
4
13
Mar 24, 2021
#16
  • Mar 24, 2021
  • #16
limp said:
There should be "push nuts" ( thats what I call them) there.. Remove your door panel and replace them... Should push off push new ones on..
Click to expand...
Thanks.

Are the armrests attached to just the panel, or the actual door? I thought I would have to remove the armrest first, to remove the door panel?
 

foxbodybill89

Active Member
Jan 19, 2020
143
65
38
Sioux Falls, SD
Mar 24, 2021
#17
  • Mar 24, 2021
  • #17
Push nuts have nothing to do with your crooked screw, you'll need to pull the entire door panel off to get that out. Those big screws thread into the metal door structure itself and clamp the door panel tight against the inside of the door, someone missed the hole and just left it, probably isn't screwed into anything hence your handle separating.
 

stangbaba

Member
Jul 22, 2008
23
4
13
Mar 24, 2021
#18
  • Mar 24, 2021
  • #18
foxbodybill89 said:
Push nuts have nothing to do with your crooked screw, you'll need to pull the entire door panel off to get that out. Those big screws thread into the metal door structure itself and clamp the door panel tight against the inside of the door, someone missed the hole and just left it, probably isn't screwed into anything hence your handle separating.
Click to expand...
Ahhhh, okay, thank you! I planned on overhauling the doors anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
01 GT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK CYLINDER LINKAGE
  • Scwhitten
  • May 13, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
106
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Friday at 8:15 PM
melo.timo
M
N
Power door lock motor Question
  • NYFox
  • Mar 15, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
3
Views
212
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 17, 2026
NYFox
N
Interior and Upholstery Best vinyl adhesive for door panels?
  • wobbyguy
  • Jan 27, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
8
Views
2K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jan 31, 2025
limp
P
Interior and Upholstery Door Speakers- found suggestion to go component, not coaxial
  • pindude80
  • Apr 21, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
13
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Apr 28, 2025
Mindseye007
Water leak from hatchback door
  • jeremyzcook82
  • Nov 24, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
173
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Nov 25, 2025
jeremyzcook82
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?