Door Handle Snapped Off?
Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 542
Likes: 1
From: New Milford, CT
Door Handle Snapped Off?
Went to open the door from the inside, and the plastic handle literally snapped right off.
Never experienced this before. Is there a write up anywhere on how to take the door panel off so i can replace the handle? Also, can i even buy this part, or do i have to buy a whole new mechanism?
Picture Related.
Never experienced this before. Is there a write up anywhere on how to take the door panel off so i can replace the handle? Also, can i even buy this part, or do i have to buy a whole new mechanism?
Picture Related.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,303
Likes: 1
Its super easy to take the door panels off. Just remove all the screws around the outsides, and the one in the arm rest as well as the one where the window buttons are. You can buy them new at most parts stores. Your better off replacing them with the chrome metal door handles from 80's trucks. Never break em again.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Western Ma
Pretty simple fix. Once you take off the panel, you'll see the sheet metal ripped off from fatique. Find a 3" X 3" piece of sheet metal and form the bends to fit over it, mark the handle location, drill and rivet in place. takes a couple of hours to fix. Good side is the passenger side probably doesnt get as much use so it wont be breaking off anytime soon....
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 11,132
Likes: 3
From: Southern West Virginia
I did the metal 80s handles on mine, but I've always changed them without taking the door panels off. I use a long 1/4" drive extension and 8mm socket. It's not easy doing it that way, but easier than removing the door panels, for me anyway LOL!
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,799
Likes: 102
From: Ashland City, TN
haha.
I spose you could do it that way though.
Most people don't lubricate the parts involved in the door handles, ever. So they tend to stretch and fatigue.
Same with lubricating the window slides and the molding around the outside to keep the window traveling easily. Wears the motor out working to hard. =)
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 11,132
Likes: 3
From: Southern West Virginia
I'll show you lazy when you're swapping that axle by yourself! 
You know I'm just kiddin LOL! I just hate taking the door panels off.....all those stupid little plastic push pins 
You know I'm just kiddin LOL! I just hate taking the door panels off.....all those stupid little plastic push pins
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,799
Likes: 102
From: Ashland City, TN
The push pins dont bother me. its all the dam screws.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Western Ma
Dem frigin push pins always break and always when no extras can be found....My impression of this thread w/o seeing a picture of the handle is that it broke the attaching metal off like mine did a week before the inspection ran out last year.....It failed due to what if the cab was ablaze and you cant get out....so back home to fix it.....maybe it's simpler...
Last edited by Usaman; Mar 18, 2013 at 06:01 PM. Reason: omission
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,799
Likes: 102
From: Ashland City, TN
Dem frigin push pins always break and always when no extras can be found....My impression of this thread w/o seeing a picture of the handle is that it broke the attaching metal off like mine did a week before the inspection ran out last year.....It failed due to what if the cab was ablaze and you cant get out....so back home to fix it.....maybe it's simpler...
most people pull to hard on the damn things and over time they snap.
part of life.
I dont know what metal issue your talking about.
I'd have had my door off if I had to pull hard enough to bend metal to open the door.
You can open mine with your pinky finger and no hand movement. I got them suckers lubed.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Western Ma
The door sheet metal that the handle screws on to sheared off on mine and It was to thin to weld on another piece so I had to fashion a piece of sheet that followed the up and down bend of the door handle inset and rivet that on and drill hew holes to where the handle bolted to.
Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 542
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From: New Milford, CT
Here's the handle.
In all of your ramblings, you've managed to confuse me senseless. Someone is recommending bending sheet-metal to do god knows what, someone is talking about an 80s handle, and another one is talking about sticking an extension through the hole in the door to unbolt god knows what.
I'm assuming just need to buy a new handle, but the 80s handle is stronger. Is it a direct bolt on or what?
In all of your ramblings, you've managed to confuse me senseless. Someone is recommending bending sheet-metal to do god knows what, someone is talking about an 80s handle, and another one is talking about sticking an extension through the hole in the door to unbolt god knows what.
I'm assuming just need to buy a new handle, but the 80s handle is stronger. Is it a direct bolt on or what?
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 11,132
Likes: 3
From: Southern West Virginia
Yep, the 80s handles are metal. They do bolt right up. If you shine a flashlight back through the fuzzy stuff around the hole that the handle goes in, you'll see the bolt still holding the broken piece in there.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Western Ma
As Gilda Radnor said...Never mind. Its a simple replace after taking off the door panel. consider yourself lucky today. You'll find the other piece with its single screw still on the inside. If you're real good and patient: you can reach it, undo the old piece and replace it w/o taking the door panel off.
