Shaved door handles are a popular feature among muscle cars, hot rods, and Asian imports. A shaved door handle is a car door where no handle is on the exterior of the door. Because the door is clean of any features, it gives the car nice clean lines and a more modern style.

How to Shaved Doors Work?

With a shaved door, an electromechanical device known as a solenoid is used to trigger the door latch. The user uses a remote control device to activate the doors opening and an emergency button is hidden on the vehicle in case the remote malfunctions.

Getting door handles professionally shaved can cost over a thousand dollars but those with even a little experience in welding and the necessary cutting and welding tools can do the process themselves. To get started purchase a shaved door handles kit, these kits will simplify the installation by including everything needed to complete door shaving.

How to Install Shaved Doors Yourslef

To remove the outer door handles you will first have to remove the interior door panel to remove screws and connections holding the handles in place. You should mask off the surrounding areas of the vehicle before getting started so the paint will not get damaged. Carefully remove the glass, mirror and trim pieces as well. Then you can insert the solenoid into the area left by where the door handle connected to the interior door latch. Install the door opening mechanism and follow the instructions provided in your shaved door handles kit in order to run the wires.

Mark off a rectangular area around the door handle then use a cut wheel to cut it out. Use this cut out piece to cut out a piece of metal the same size then tack weld it into the gap left on the car door. Grind down the area then use sandpaper to make it completely smooth. Apply several coats of primer and paint the panel so the door color matches the vehicle.