door lock mechanism removal ???

[frisky68]

have the door panel off and need to remove the key assembly..what needs to be done to remove this ?? from the looks of it there is a clip to hold the rod assembly to the unit, but what about the lock mechanism itself ??? will it spin out once the rod hardware is removed ??

[COBALT]

Are you talking about the latch assembly (the big assembly that actually bolts to the door with the three big flat-headed screws), or the lock that the key goes in?

If you're talking about the assembly then there's two rods that have little clips you have to turn to get them to unlock from the rod. The rods are turned to a 90 degree angle, and then fit through holes on the assembly. The clips are designed to fit over the brackets, and then the rods slip through, and the clips snap onto the rod body.

The lock has a simple spring clip that holds it in place. You may have to squirt some penetrating oil, WD-40, or something else to get it loose enough to slide out. Maybe take a short stubby flat-headed screw driver and push the spring clip out from around the lock. Then the lock just falls out of the door from the outside.

Bare in mind that the lock has a right-angle arm on it that fits in between a "C" shaped bracket on the assembly. Therefore, you probably have to take the lock out first (oops, I was telling someone else how to do this recently and left that part out), before you can take the assembly out.

Once you get the rods out of the way, the lock out, and undo those 3 big screws the assembly should be loose enough to maneuver out.

[bobs409]

If it's just the key cylinder you need to remove, there is a clip that holds it in place. A pair of pliers will help. Remove it and the cylinder will come out.

[Fred T]

Bob and Cobalt are right. To get the lock mechanism out I use a small prybar. Reach in and slide the clip off. The lock will then slide out and needs to be out to remove the latch.

To pull the latch it is easiest to disconnect the rod from the handle remote first, then from the latch. The clips are kinda tough to get loose, a small, thin bladed screwdriver or pocketknife works. Then unscrew the lock knob and remove the 3 screws that hold the latch to the frame. These take a #3 phillips driver. The latch will then come out by lowering it and turning the corner around the window channel. With the lock button off, the lock rod can be left on, it's a pain to remove in the door.