drivers door handle change

[silver stripe]

just wondering if anyone has changed a door handle on a 1992 explorer 4 door, not sure what all models are the same but its a real pain in the ass.

I broke mine the otherday, so i thought, this is gonna be easy, so I removed the inner panal to find the handle is rivited in place, so i drilled the rivits out,
2 of them, and now im kinda puzzled as the leaver bar that makes the door open when you use the handle.
goes through the handle and back down again, so the handle will not come away from the truck to take the old one off.

I thought I could break the old handle off, but how would i get the new one back on????

looking at it closer and seeing its not in my explorer bible
I got from the local auto parts store.

The only thing i can think of is the latch in the door needs to be unscrewed, to allow play on the lever bar, but the screws are stripped.

so am I on the right trail before i drill out these 3 screws or is there a easier way.

any input will be greatly appreciated

 

[RiverRat]

I think you do have to loosen the door latch to get some play on the rods. Other options are to get a special "swivel" plastic rod clip and modify the rod.

I've never done a first gen exp.

 

[silver stripe]

its the crappiest designed thing i have ever seen.
even with the panal off on the inside, the rod is all done by feel as you cant see it becouse of all the windows track ect............

 

[88vert]

There should be a plastic clip holding the two rods together all you have to do is seperate them and the handle will come all the way out.You have to do it by feel,and make sure your window is all the way up

 

[JoshC]

I need to do this to a 92 myself. Just wanted to see how bad of a job it was and where you got your door handle at cause i need to order one.