Ford Door Molding Buyer's Guide
Door moldings are often the most overlooked body parts on a car. Yet, they’re more than just cosmetic parts. They also provide some protection. If you’d like to learn more about Ford door moldings, this buyer’s guide has all the answers you need.
What Are Door Moldings And Why Are They Important?
Door moldings are extra body parts added on top of the vehicle’s door panels and fenders. For example, if you look at your Ford’s doors, you’ll notice a plastic or chrome strip across them. That’s a type of door molding.
Door moldings are cosmetic and functional parts. They make the vehicle look nicer. Also, they serve as a protective layer for the doors. This post has a nice explanation of door moldings and why they’re important.
There are several different names for door moldings, including:
- Window applique
- Door edge guard
- Side molding
- Body molding
- Pillar cover
- Window molding
- Door trim
For the sake of clarity, we’ll refer to these parts as door moldings.
How To Replace Ford Explorer Window/Door Moldings
If you have door moldings that need replacing, there’s no need to bring your Ford to a shop. Replacing the moldings on your Ford is a straightforward job you can do at home. You would only need a few basic tools, such as a flat head screwdriver and a screwdriver with a Torx bit.
All you need to do is find the bolts and screws holding the moldings in place. Remove the bolts and screws, and then remove the moldings. Next, bolt/screw the new moldings in place. It’s that simple.
The process varies between models. It’s wise to find a model-specific tutorial for replacing a door molding. We put one together for replacing door moldings on a Ford Explorer.
Are OEM Ford Moldings Better Than Aftermarket?
When you’re looking for replacement door moldings, you need to decide whether to get OEM or aftermarket parts. If you ask us, OEM Ford moldings are a much better investment than aftermarket moldings. Here’s a post explaining why: Are OEM Moldings Better Than Aftermarket? To sum it up:
- OEM moldings always fit exactly right
- OEM moldings will match the other moldings on your car
- OEM moldings can withstand the elements
Many aftermarket moldings are cheaply built moldings that:
- Won’t fit your car right
- May not match the other moldings on your car
- Can’t stand the test of time
Despite all that, some people still buy aftermarket moldings. It’s because OEM moldings are usually much more expensive. It’s not always the case, though. OEM Ford parts can be much cheaper online. For example, we offer wholesale pricing on all genuine OEM Ford parts, including door moldings. Do a search on your Ford model in our catalog of OEM Ford door moldings to see what we have available for your car!