Door crushed. Reskin it or reshape it?
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Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 79
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
Door crushed. Reskin it or reshape it?
Hit and run driver got the Accord a few weeks ago. Driver's door and fender caved in. Other driver took off without leaving a note. We found the driver (no help from the totally useless police) and are claiming this against their insurance.
Their insurance company's body shop tried to fob me off with a cheesy CAPA aftermarket replacement fender. "Just as good as an OEM fender," they said.
I laughed at them. "So you won't mind when I tell you to GET A REAL OEM FENDER instead, will you?" I don't know any automotive professionals who would allow CAPA crap to be installed on their own cars.
They proposed to weld/pull/bondo the door. So did all of the other shops I talked to. I have never had to consider door damage. I was pretty sure that Honda does not sell doors as a unit. But when I looked on the parts fiche, they have listed a "Door Skin" component which sure looks like the damaged outer part of this door.
Has anyone ever bought and installed a new door skin? What's involved? Cut away the old skin and weld the new one in place? Is this a quality repair? It certainly sounds better than a bondo job.
Their insurance company's body shop tried to fob me off with a cheesy CAPA aftermarket replacement fender. "Just as good as an OEM fender," they said.
I laughed at them. "So you won't mind when I tell you to GET A REAL OEM FENDER instead, will you?" I don't know any automotive professionals who would allow CAPA crap to be installed on their own cars.
They proposed to weld/pull/bondo the door. So did all of the other shops I talked to. I have never had to consider door damage. I was pretty sure that Honda does not sell doors as a unit. But when I looked on the parts fiche, they have listed a "Door Skin" component which sure looks like the damaged outer part of this door.
Has anyone ever bought and installed a new door skin? What's involved? Cut away the old skin and weld the new one in place? Is this a quality repair? It certainly sounds better than a bondo job.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 875
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From: Buffalo, NY
Although I've never done the reskin, it is a lot more work for the shop to do. Did they offer to find a used door? I would get a complete used door and repaint it, same with the fender. Now's a good time to redo the hinges on the door also.
My sons Blazer was just T-boned and the shop just found two doors and the B pillar, painted them and replaced them. Very good job.
And this info is coming from someone who bought the aftermarket parts and installed them (radiator support and hood) and hate it. But it was cheaper than new and have lasted about 6 years with my crappy spray can paint job.
My sons Blazer was just T-boned and the shop just found two doors and the B pillar, painted them and replaced them. Very good job.
And this info is coming from someone who bought the aftermarket parts and installed them (radiator support and hood) and hate it. But it was cheaper than new and have lasted about 6 years with my crappy spray can paint job.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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ive been doing body work for about 6 years reskinig the door will require drilling out the spot weld and rewelding the skin on its more of a pain than anything but its better than bondo that could crack if u slam your door to hard i would just get one from a junkyard if u shop around you can normally get one for between 25-75 bucks a skin might be cheeper but thats the esiest route