2006 tacoma door arm rest

[JamesBC]

Hello -
I have a newbie question -
I have a 2006 Tacoma access cab, and I've put about 50k miles on it. My only complaint is that on the driver's side door, the hard plastic under the cloth on the arm rest has cracked from my elbow resting on it.
Is this a common problem that anyone else has experienced? Any ideas on repairing, other than replacing the entire inner door panel? It doesn't appear that there is a small part that can be replaced. The dealer quoted me for the whole panel. $$$
Just starting to plan modifications - going on a trip to Baja this month as the first long off road trip in this truck.
Thanks!

 

[Dave Bennett]

Welcome to ExPo!

I have never heard of the arm rest cracking.

What I would do is pull the door panel and use some 2 part epoxy to repair the crack, they make a kind especially for plastic bonding.

Or, you could even go as far as using some fiberglass mesh to "strengthen" that area and apply resin over it. Any repair you make will be hidden once the panel is on.

 

[BigTaco]

Have you tried sourcing the part from a salvage yard? Even if you find one in another state, I'm sure it would be cheaper than buying straight from the dealer.

 

[Dave Bennett]

I'd be interested to see what a yard would want for one of those door panels.

I imagine they are a few hundred dollars from Toyota...

 

[JamesBC]

Thanks for the ideas. I'm gluing the cracks from the inside, and then I'm going to reinforce with fiberglass over that. I'll let you know how it turns out.
The dealer wanted about $450 for the panel. I don't know what one would be from a junkyard. I need to replace a front mudflap, and the dealer wanted about $100 for that. I'll either get one from a yard, or go without. They break off too easy.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Good plan.

IMO, the flaps are too rigid and will break as fast as you replace them if you go off road much... I took mine off long ago :ylsmoke:

 

[Streakerfreak]

Good plan.

IMO, the flaps are too rigid and will break as fast as you replace them if you go off road much... I took mine off long ago :ylsmoke:

He is 100% right. They are way to stiff for off road travel. If you don't need the fronts don't waste the money on getting new ones.

 

[BigTaco]

If you need to run mud flaps get the universal ones that are flexible rubber. Don't look as nice but will definitely last longer than the stockers. Or if you can find some flat rubber...not sure where...you coud just make some basic ones yourself.

http://www.duraflap.com/

 

[maxama10]

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=216693&highlight=broke+armrest

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=172691&highlight=broke+armrest

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120699&highlight=leather+armrest+mod

 

[maxama10]

I might add, a somewhat okay way to preserve the front flaps is to get a pair of scissors and a sharpie and another mudflap.

Trace the patter of the other mudflap onto one mudflap, then just cut along the line... making it however short you need.

Less prone to being hit, and breaking. Yet, still wont have as much mud/crap being throne into the air as if you had taken them off.

 

[JamesBC]

Thanks for all the help. Glad to know it is an issue that has come up with others. I'm a big guy (6'4'' 214) but I didn't think I was THAT big.
So I think it initially cracked when it was under the 36k coverage, but I'm past that now. Doesn't matter though - I think a replacement would crack too.

I used the plastic bonding stuff first - I wasn't impressed. It would not have held - so I put on some fiberglass.

I bought some bondo fiberglass patch, and some cloth. I used the manuals here to take off the door. Then I roughed up the entire area under the arm rest with a wire brush. I mixed up about 1/4 of the pint can with the hardener, and laid down a thick layer under the arm rest. Then I put down a piece of cloth, cut to fit, then another layer on top of that.

It isn't pretty, but since it is on the inside...

So it cured for a few hours, and was good to go. I popped it back into place on the door, and this morning - it was like a rock. There is no way that is going to give - I can put the full weight of my elbow down, I can pound on it with my elbow - no worries.

Good, tight fix. I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't think of such an obvious solution myself - but thanks.

I'm good to go... Now to decide what to do with that mudflap.

 

[maxama10]

Personally, either run without, but be prepared for mud flinging rock chipping action, or buy a new set and trim em up, or if the other set is salvageable enough to trim just do that.