How to Replace Your Car Door

There are many reasons you might want to swap out your old car door for a new one. Maybe you were in an accident and it was significantly damaged or maybe rust has corroded your door panel. Regardless of the reason, you’ll want to ensure the new car door is installed correctly.

If you need a car door replacement, you have the choice of taking your car to a professional mechanic or keeping your costs low and fixing the door on your own. If you decide on the latter, here’s how to replace your car door.

No two car model doors are the same. That’s why it’s important to get the correct door, hardware, and tools for your specific vehicle model.

You can find replacement doors online or at your nearest repair shop or auto replacement parts shop.

Most car doors are wired for speakers, door locks, car windows, and other electrical components. The wires are inside a rubber tube that travels from the door to the car’s body. Gently pull this tube out of the car’s body until you see the electrical connector. Disconnect the electrical connector.

The door holder is a small plastic arm that slides in and out of the door as it opens and closes. It is not intended to hold the full weight of the door so it’s imperative that you remove the door holder before removing the nuts and bolts holding the door in place. Otherwise, the door holder will easily break under the weight of the door.

Unbolt the hinges and remove the door from the car. Have a friend support the door while you’re removing the hinges to ensure that it doesn’t fall when you disconnect it from the car.

Place the new door into position and ensure that you align the door frame and the bolts.

Now that you have aligned the new door into position, it is time to tighten the bolts to the hinges. Start by tightening them with your hands and finish the job with a wrench.

Bolt the door holder back in place.

Plug the new door connector into the car connector. When everything is connected, push the tube with the wires into its intended place in the car door (it’s usually a small recess).

Test the electronics in the car. Don’t forget to try your windows, speakers, and door lock.
If the door doesn’t close smoothly, adjust the hinges for a better fit.

Apply some thread locking fluid on the door’s hinges to prevent them from loosening over time. Loosen the bolts one at a time, apply the fluid, and tighten them again.