Door handle buttons
 

Does anybody know whats up with these things? it seems like every truck with this body style (thats not redone) is missing the buttons. My buttons were found inside my door! What was your ways of fixing the problem? I think that the thing inside the door that the button presses wears out in the door and bends letting the button fall in the door. but im not sure. Any answers?

Re: Door handle buttons
 

40 year old pot metal tends to break.
Overseas made pot metal breaks even quicker.

Re: Door handle buttons
 

X2

Have you seen what holds the button mechanism together? It's amazing that my originals are still together and working, just the chrome bubbled up and chipped away on them.
I bought a set of repro's and not even a couple years later, and with very light usage the button mechanism broke. I bought new ones again, and they are better but I bet they won't last as long as my OEM one's.

When you decide to get a new set, you may want to put a dollop of JB weld on on the back where they are pinched to hold the spring in place.

Re: Door handle buttons
 

I had the same problem I had all the parts put it back together and drilled 2 small holes and droped 2 finishing nails into the holes to hold the base and the spring in place and it is working great. I did this cause my 68 doors are bent on a little bit of a angle so a newer handel bolts up but is tilted.

Re: Door handle buttons
 

I bought a set of repops that lasted about a month. The pot metal crimps give way. I repaired mine with a piece of the strapping for aftermarket rear radio and a couple of small sheet metal screws. Works great and can't tell unless it is removed. This is like the 2nd one I've seen always seems to be on the drivers side. Guess it gets used more often open n shut from vibration from door usage.

Re: Door handle buttons
 

We have reproductions that the spring plate is pinned into place, not crimped like the old ones. They seem to be holding up well. I had installed a set on the Garden truck and it has been 4 or 5 years without a failure. WES

Re: Door handle buttons
 

The factory ones on my truck never broke, but I replaced them because of pitting.

If you want to see some broken and crappy door handles... talk to folks who own 88-98 GM trucks and SUVs.

I also remember that the door handles on 80's caprices were complete crap too.

Re: Door handle buttons
 

My passenger side button fell inside the door last year...only used it maybe 5 times....returned for another one....now my driver side button pops out for some reason....ugh the reprop stuff is crap too!!!

Re: Door handle buttons
 

Is this what your handle looked like? I haven't had any problems with these. WES

Re: Door handle buttons
 

That sucks Geoff!!! I didn't know that happened to ya! I can't remember where I got mine from, but they've been on my truck since 06 and are still good. I've only opened my PS door maybe 50 times in all those years (wife gets in on the DS with me) but I've opened the DS door probably thousands of times.

Re: Door handle buttons
 

Wes,

I can't tell from your pictures, but I think (it's been 6 months or so) mine had the tabs bent in to hold that small plate in place....does that make sense??

Re: Door handle buttons
 

Yes, some of the reproductions still do. However since we found these, this is what we sell now. WES

Re: Door handle buttons
 

this is how I made mine work