Vehicle door with separable door hardware module

A vehicle door comprising:

• an outer panel having a lower skin and an upper window frame portion;
• an inner panel having a generally corresponding upper window frame portion attached to the outer panel, lower portions of the inner panel and the outer skin defining a hollow cavity, an inner face of the inner panel including a generally centrally located enlarged opening therein of a given longitudinal dimension;
• upper glass track sections in the window frame;
• a door hardware module having a plate with a peripheral dimension larger than the opening in the inner panel, front and rear lower glass track sections vertically extending on opposite edges of an outer face of said plate, a window glass slideably mounted in the lower glass tracks, and window regulator means mounted to the plate for controlling vertical movement of the window;
• fastening means for connecting the plate to the inner panel so that the plate covers the opening in the inner panel, with the upper and lower glass track sections being interfitted at their adjacent edges thereby bringing them into alignment;
• and
• a trim pad covering the plate and peripheral portions of the inner face of the inner panel.