Door Handle Removal Question

[farmtruckman]

What is the trick for removing the door handles on my 95? Those are some hefty rivets holding them things in. I was just thinking of taking a pair of dykes to cut away at them piece by piece until I can punch through the center of the rivet. Looks too stout to drill through the center. I was just going to use nut/bolt combination to replace the handle once removed. I have never seen rivets in that size before.

 

[Turdle]

Yeah, they are 1/4" rivets. It takes a special 1/4" rivet gun, which most dirt track stock car racers have, if you know any.
I used a nut and bolt myself. Seems to work fine.

just drill it out. it works pretty well.

 

[gijoecam]

Drill the head off. Just be careful with the drill... Mine slipped and gouged the door. I was not a happy camper LOL!!

And yes, it'll take a large, heavy-duty rivet gun to reinstall them. I borrowed one from work, but there are plenty of people that have used nuts and bolts. Personally, if I had to go that route, I'd use a stainless steel carriage bolt to save my knuckles.

-Joe

 

[mattferkey]

i work at a body shop... stupid design but you drill them out and replace with new rivets

 

[MONMIX]

drive out the center of the rivit first

makes the job MUCH easier.

 

[farmtruckman]

Thanks for the quick response. Do I drive it out from the inside out or from the outside in. Would be a b****h from the inside, I imagine.

 

[MONMIX]

out side
hammer and punch
then as mentioned 1/4 inch drill bit

 

[Joe Dirt]

Monmix helped me before I went to the junkyard (whether he knows it or not- LOL!)

I punched out the center of the rivet, drilled out the rest of it with a cordless drill and unhooked the latch extender from the inside of the door to releast the handle.

Just a tip- don't close your door, I couldn't get the door open again at the boneyard once I unhooked the handle and took the handle out! (Unless I'm missing something)

 

[vroomzoomboom]

if you do rivet it back in, put a chunk of car board just below the handle. that way when the rivet breaks off, the rivet gun will bounce off the card board, and not a nice shinny paint job. i learned that the hard way once

 

[MONMIX]

if you do rivet it back in, put a chunk of car board just below the handle. that way when the rivet breaks off, the rivet gun will bounce off the card board, and not a nice shinny paint job. i learned that the hard way once

sound advice
been there done that

 

[atlranger]

I used a nut riviter I picked up from Harbor Freight for $13.99:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=1210

SS bolts with locktite on them so they will not rust or back out.