Over the last 4 years since I bought my van and have had both the passenger and driver's side arm rests come off in my hand.

Silly me ... I use them to close the door and not just to rest my arm on.

Before Chevy 'progresses' to using papier-mache parts maybe I can do something to reinforce the arm rest innards so they are strong enough to use as a handle.

A handle ... imagine the depth of the design capacity needed to invent that.


2003 Chevy Express 3500

 

I know. That little plastic grommett that holds it to the door panel and the 2 screws that suck through from the top.

I glued mine to the door panel with hot melt glue, but epoxy would work well. Then a couple of washers for the top screws should help.....but yes you have to be careful when you pull on the door not to reef on it.

 

canucklehead,

Your situation sounds different.

In my case the plastic is not breaking around the screws. The inside mounting piece is snapping off along its length. I can not tell where it starts since the failure is catastrophic. Looks to be too weak or too thin of a material.

There is no need to "reef" on the door. I just pull it closed. Heaven forbid the wind is blowing against it. I know .. I shouldn't be driving outside.

Maybe the door is designed for me push the door closed to protect the pull handle and then crawl in the window.

 

I've never witnessed the problem, or the details but I could envision the problem. There must a way to dremel some plastic and epoxy some light steel in there or? I guess you need to see exactly where and how it starts.

For me, the thing that's bothered me since day one is that the arm rest of the door, is slightly higher than the armrest on the seat. It tilts my posture and bugs me. Also, I find that hard plast uncomfortable and in down the road I wanted to look for a way to cover it something softer.

 

You are right. I do believe the door panels are different between 02 and 03. I guess if you pull it apart, and take the door panel off, you could reinforce and epoxy it back together....