Both Door Handles Broke.

[DucatiRdr]

Are there any instructions to removing the door panel? The last time I did this was on my 2-door Explorer and all the instructions suggested was to "pull sharply" which sharply broke off some tabs I didn't know were there.

 

[90blacknight]

Carriage bolt is a great idea! I used rivets this past weekend and ended up scratching the door. Careful using the rivet gun, it can kick like a mule. Guess sometimes you learn the hard way. Have the passenger side to do still, this time I'll know better.

 

[Matts89Notch]

What size drill bit and what size bolts were used? I have to do this tomorrow and was wondering what you guys used when doing this..

 

[lvboost]

i hade to replace the handles also .So i bought and put on the aftermarket handles and took them right off because they looked cheesey.So i spent the money and got the ford original handles .Thats my advice

 

[Foxfan88]

sometimes if you have the key in the door and turned to unlock to door, and u pull the handle. the metal rod will come undone. you can get down and look at the handle and see if its broken or not.

 

[getusummm]

Everyone may also want to check out the condition of the door hinge bushings. I have found a sagging door causes more broken handles than anything.

 

[vristang]

What size drill bit and what size bolts were used? I have to do this tomorrow and was wondering what you guys used when doing this..

Not sure on the drill size, but I used 1/4" carriage bolts.

A .250 drill may be a tad bit too big? I don't remember though.

jason

 

[gunmetal5.0]

Hi, My drivers side door handle broke too. I took off the mirror adjusting thing, the inside door handle and the armrest. The thing still doesnt want to come off. As far as I can tell there's nothing else holding it on. What i've been told is you have to pop the clips off along the bottom inside of the panel and once those are off push the whole panel upwards to release the top clips. If that is the right way it sure isn't easy to do. Any advice anyone can give me about tools or methods would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. P.S. I hit the junkyard on a hunch and discovered that a certain old ford station wagon (not sure what it was, 70's or 80's i'd assume) had the same handles on the rear doors as our mustangs in chrome! Payed like five bucks for both. I drilled out the rivets and I pretty much tore them off since I didn't care about the station wagon and then just bent the arm with the hole in it back to its position once it was off. Not the best way to do it but I couldnt get the panel off of those doors either lol.