Anyone replaced a REAR door external door handle?

[sehaare]

I did a search but can only find front door info.

The passenger side rear door was replaced due to collision damage. The used door came with a black external door handle instead of a color matched handle like the original door. So I have 3 color matched handles and one black handle. Luckily, I kept the old door for spare parts and now want to swap in the color matched handle. I could only find info on doing the driver door, nothing for rear doors. The procedure has to be about the same, but there is not a large opening to get to the handle like the front door. Anyone ever done the rear door and have advice/pictures/video?

Thanks

 

[koda2000]

The rear exterior door handle is the same part as the front handle and the procedure for changing the rear is basically the same as for changing a front. If your using machine screws and nuts instead of rivets to secure the handle it's a little difficult to get the nut on the rear screw because of the shape of the door, but it's doable.

It wasn't worth the trouble for me to swap a door handle just because it wasn't the same color, so I just painted the installed black handle (I already had the paint) using a light grey primer, spray touch-up paint and clear coat. Came out a perfect match.

 

[sehaare]

The rear exterior door handle is the same part as the front handle and the procedure for changing the rear is basically the same as for changing a front. If your using machine screws and nuts instead of rivets to secure the handle it's a little difficult to get the nut on the rear screw because of the shape of the door, but it's doable.

It wasn't worth the trouble for me to swap a door handle just because it wasn't the same color, so I just painted the installed black handle (I already had the paint) using a light grey primer, spray touch-up paint and clear coat. Came out a perfect match.

Thanks, I've got a pop rivet gun but when I looked at teh front door procedure I believe that my rivets are also going to be too small. so it might be the machine screw path for me as well if I can get my club hands in there.

 

[koda2000]

Thanks, I've got a pop rivet gun but when I looked at teh front door procedure I believe that my rivets are also going to be too small. so it might be the machine screw path for me as well if I can get my club hands in there.

I use stainless steel dish-head machine screws and Nylock nuts. Makes it easier the next time you have to replace the door handle. I wish Ford had used screws in the first place.

 

[410Fortune]

I have the giant pop rivet gun from Harbor freight that uses the large aluminum rivets, like 1/4" shank
Makes it easy to re install door handles just like factory. If you ever need to remove it the aluminum rivets are super easy to drill out using a stepped drill bit
I believe Dorman now makes a metal replacement handle no more plastic!!
The 95-97 trucks had metal handles also FYI

 

[sehaare]

I have the giant pop rivet gun from Harbor freight that uses the large aluminum rivets, like 1/4" shank
Makes it easy to re install door handles just like factory. If you ever need to remove it the aluminum rivets are super easy to drill out using a stepped drill bit
I believe Dorman now makes a metal replacement handle no more plastic!!
The 95-97 trucks had metal handles also FYI

I went out and bought the same one last night. $19, Harbor freight is 10 Min from my house at times that can be a bad thing.

 

[sehaare]

One thing that I also added to the original thread on this, when you are drilling out the old rivets be careful how much you heat them up with the drill. The part that they are attaching to the metal door is plastic and the countersunk part will melt away (learned the hard way). I built it back up using superglue and baking soda.

For those of you who don't know this trick do a youtube search. If you put backing soda onto wet super glue it immediatly forms a kind of hard plastic that can be sanded, filed or cut (to some extent). You can fix a lot of mistakes with it.

 

[toypaseo]

Another tip...

To make removal easier, use a bungee cord. Run it from the top of the door and use it to keep the door handle up during removal. Less risk of cosmetic damage from the drill, hammer, punch, etc. The first one I removed, my drill caused some minor paint damage. After using a bungee cord, no damage, and it was faster.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

For those of you who don't know this trick do a youtube search. If you put baking soda onto wet super glue it immediately forms a kind of hard plastic that can be sanded, filed or cut (to some extent). You can fix a lot of mistakes with it.

I've used the superglue & baking soda trick to repair hard plastic (fragile) door panels for '73-79 F Series pickups, and it's legit. Part won't break in the same spot again. Be sure to use the superglue & baking soda on the back side of the part because it will be white.