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When I had my door panels done the interior handles just wouldn't go on unless I left off the round metal plates behind the handles (yeah, yeah, I know, dumb arse thing to do)
And of course I now need to remove the drivers side panel (window needs replacing)
The good old clip remover obviously wont work without the backing plate behind the handle
I was talking to a mate last night that said they use to use a bit of flannel cloth and put it behind the handle and pull back and forwards (like a towel drying your back) and sometimes this bit of cloth would catch the clips and pull them out.
Well, I had no luck

So apart from cracking the shits and breaking the door panel, anyone have any other ideas??

Cheers
John

Somehow you are going to have to push the door trim back enough to use the tool. The steel bits being there or not shouldn't be an issue. I have left all the springs off on mine which makes it easier if I need to remove a door trim.

Make a small hook out of a piece of wire, get it over the back of the clip then push the hand in to take the pressure off the clip and pull it out. If that makes sense?

The door trim clip remover should work with or without the metal washer there.
Sometimes the clip may be on the opposite way, have you tried the tool both ways?
The rag trick works every time I have used it but you you need to be fairly aggressive pulling it down both sides of the handle as you are pulling it back and forth.
Keep going, you will get there.

BTW, is the door trim thicker than stock?

Cheers guys. I will keep at it.

The door panels are just a smidgeon thicker than normal. Just enough so the plate just wouldn't go on.

If possible once off might be worth thinning that area to make it easier.

What DR said.
I wouldn't recommend it, but I have used Rubber Mallets to persuade a door handle/window winder to go on in days long past. Easier to remove some foam IMHO.

I know this is an old post, but in case anyone is still listening - is it Ok to leave the door handle and window winder springs off??

I got the door handle on with the conicle spring in place but I can't seem to get the window winder spring on. There is so much pressure pushing back on the panel, the clips won't stay in place (I am using nylon bushes in the holes, are these working against me as well?). There is a foam bush about 5cm round supplied with the handle, does this replace the spring maybe?

For what it's worth, I bought a generic door handle clip remover from S/C Auto and without the metal plate, I managed to remove the winders and handles with ease.

PeterH65 wrote:There is a foam bush about 5cm round supplied with the handle, does this replace the spring maybe?

The foam bush is a seal (part number 7413223, originally a rubber washer) for around the window winder regulator assembly. It does not replace the spring.

Cheers,
Harv

I haven't had the springs on mine since I rebuilt the car 8 odd years ago and having just started pulling it down for some repairs haven't seen anything out of the ordinary.