Ok guys, i searched and couldnt find a writeup on how its done, and some threads mention different ways to do it. this is the eaisest way to do it.

items needed
new trim,
flat head screwdriver




and this is your shitz... all nasty looking. you cant impress chicks with this ****.




ok so step 1

slide the window trim forward with screw driver. don't pry it really, get the screw driver in between the trim and door, and just twist the screwdriver like you are unscrewing something. this will loosen it up since there's all kinds of crud and **** under it making some sort of like natural glue.




once thats done, move to the underside of the trim, closest to the end, and do the same as you did above, but instead of trying to get it to move forward, you are trying to pop it up.



now that should give you some room to get the flat head under the trim and you can just pry it.



it will start to come up now. once this is achieved, you can just yank it with our hands. lift the back end up, and then pull it back and away from under the mirror.







now is the best time in the world to lean up the car and all the nasty gunk and **** that built up in the 20 some odd years that this car has lived.

 

putting new window trim...

slide it under the mirror first.

making sure the tabs line up



and just pound that sucker in. user your fist, or just press it in. don't hit it with anything hard. it will crack and destroy it.

re read this again.

now, when putting it in, note that the back of the trim will have a gap between the body and the trim.

front of trim



end of the trim



there will just be a gap. dont try and force it, cus it wont go any more. its a small gap, but isnt as bad as the old **** you had.

sit back , stare at the car



and grab a beer.

you are done. and that took... like all of 5 minutes.

 

I always pulled the doorpanel off

but yeah it looks so much better. replacing those is always the first thing I do on an FC. note that the new ones Mazda sells are rubberized and won't rust

 

the door pannel is just way too much work. it was actually what i was trying before, and unless you have a tool to pop off the clips for the window cranks, then your screwed.

not to mention there are screws galore that are like 6 times longer than they need to be.

 

Nah, no special tool needed. I do it almost every day at work with a 90* craftsman pick.

 

The turbo door panels are easier than the s4 GTU ones I had. Although there are a couple different styles of door panels and I haven't messed with them all. On the nonturbo, the crank window handles can also be removed with a tool they sell at auto parts stores specifically for that purpose, I have one somewhere. Sometimes you lose or break the pop clips on the bottom though. Then the panel doesn't fit on there securely and can rattle more. I think the universal pop clips will work.

 

you can paint them too
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/how-lower-door-window-trim-restoration-796153/

 

sometimes painting them does nothing. have them look good is one thing, and having them do their job is another.mine where completely fubard and the new ones where needed.

 

what if you dont have anything but a screwdriver? this method is soo much better

 

YOU CAN STILL GET THE CRANKS OFF WITHA screw driver. trust me. been doing demolition derby cars for like ten years now. its possible. and also painted them and it looks good.

 

i dont care.

 

Nice writeup. I found a set of the old metal ones with good rubber at the junkyard. The paint flaked off, but the metal is still shiny and non-rusted, so I'm going to paint them.

You probably won't notice any scratching once the new trim is in place, but if you're worried about scratching the paint, wrap the tip of the screwdriver in some tape.

 

To remove the window crank all that is needed is a wash rag which you slide from side to side as you try to slip it behind the plastic crank. Eventually the ring will slide out and show itself for quick removal.

 

this is not going to turn into a window crank removal thread.

 

where did you get the new ones and are they plastic like the mazda ones that someone else mentioned earlier in the thread.... and how much for a pair?

 

http://www.mazdatrix.com/doorwin2.htm

 

You can get the window crank off easy with... Hahaha JK. Great writeup SirCygnus. I took a dremel to mine and then painted them. How much does Mazda charge for those window trim pieces?

 

56.70 for one.

i figure well worth it.

 

There's no need to go back and forth about how to get the door panel off. It's clearly unnecessary. SirCygnus' method has worked for me many many times. Good writeup.