1997 cheap door handles? - Diesel Forum

galaxiedan · 04-12-2007, 10:42 PM

Does anyone know of a good replacement for the stock plastic inside door handle on a 1997 F250? Just bought a well used truck that was missing the handle. Replaced it with a Auto Zone cheapy and it didn't last 3 days. Please advise

obs96psd · 04-13-2007, 01:40 AM

I have seen them on eBay or LMC Truck has them. If your new handle only worked for 3 days and broke there may be something wrong.

When the new handle was on was it easy to pull ?

If not you may have a problem. The door latch may need lube. The cable between the handle and latch may be starting to come apart. The part on the door where the handle bolts to may be loose or need lube. Just some things to mention when installing another new handle.

Also beware on the eBay handles, they may have crazy shipping charges.

Aljay · 04-13-2007, 01:48 AM

Dealership is a no brainer they are cheap I paid 13.dollars for my last one, I will not sub. some parts the handle is one of them.Check the sheetmetal area that the pull assembly bolts to, the material is kinda thin and the spring on the release(pull) is stout I have had to weld up several trucks in this area. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Calvin1958 · 04-13-2007, 02:05 AM

Yeah I recently had to repair the metal around my handle assembly.I got lucky and was able to sandwich two fender washers over the cracked door and it works wonderful now.I can actually pull the lever with one finger now.

das5439 · 04-13-2007, 07:46 AM

My drivers inside handle snapped off early this week, I made a new handle from a piece of Aluminum, it won't break again.

72Pstroke · 04-13-2007, 11:27 AM

Buy door handles from an 86 or so. They are a lot heavier, and made of metal, not plastic.
Tim

LTLDEMONZ · 04-13-2007, 01:13 PM

use the "help!" replacement #77045 it is the metal version 72Pstroke mentioned...I just bought it as my 5th replacement handle in 3 years. got tired of the plastic ones breaking, had to use jbweld on the metal under the latch basicly made a whole new section out of the stuff(actually it was the metal play-do stuff not jbweld)

LTLDEMONZ · 04-17-2007, 09:35 AM

my mistake the part# I gave is for the passenger side handle, tomorrow I will get the driver side metal handle and get the part number for it for you. (side note now up to 6 drivers handles, last one surviving only a week)

galaxiedan · 04-17-2007, 06:29 PM

I never thought about using the handles from an 86! Autozone gave me a replacement for free but oddly enough the parts lady told me that this was the only time she could exchange the handle! The next time I would have to buy another? The package says 90 day warranty? I guess the next time it breaks I will get an older metal one. Does it fit without hitting the door panel? I looked at the pictures on their website but it is kinda hard to tell if the older one angles in the same spot. I guess I'll let everyone know how it works.

lewis8820 · 04-17-2007, 09:13 PM

your door handels brake becuase of the actual mechanism that unlocks your door from your handel. it is probably worn out or the sheet metal around it is cracked and allowing free play making it bind and that makes you break your handle. take the time... open your door up... look around and if need be tac weld the metal up and buy a new mechanism. it will save you money and fusteration in the long run.

Aljay · 04-17-2007, 09:49 PM

[ QUOTE ]
your door handels brake becuase of the actual mechanism that unlocks your door from your handel. it is probably worn out or the sheet metal around it is cracked and allowing free play making it bind and that makes you break your handle. take the time... open your door up... look around and if need be tac weld the metal up and buy a new mechanism. it will save you money and fusteration in the long run.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like someone else figured it out also .....Been there done that on two trucks. Easy afternoon fixes. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

spaceballs · 04-18-2007, 12:13 AM

Does anyone know the Ford PN for the metal 86 door handles?

spaceballs · 04-18-2007, 01:04 AM

I think that anything for an 86 would be from an 80-86. I found Help! Part numbers on ebay.
Interior Passenger is 77045 - like we said above or Ford PN 2EOTZ-1022600-B
Interior Driver is 77046 or Ford PN EOTZ-1022601-B

Is the metal handle from an 80-86 a direct bolt on? Or does it take some work?

Invader1 · 04-18-2007, 10:57 AM

I was going through the same thing a while back. I was breaking a handle a month. A couple times, new ones would break in a couple days. I installed a new metal one for an 86 and it broke in about a month also! The metal ones are just made of cheap pot metal.

I opened up the door panel and found that the previous owner had already welded the sheet metal section that brakes. My problem was that the cable is stretched, causing me to pull the door handle to its maximum travel to get the door to open.

What I did was bend the little tab that the end of the cable housing attaches to at the door handle side, away from the cable, affectively shortening the amount of cable travel required to open the door. It is kind of hard to explain but once you get in there, you will understand what I mean.

A better option might be to replace the cable assembly but I have not broken another plastic door handle in about a year now.

Hope this helps,

Invader

galaxiedan · 04-18-2007, 07:51 PM

I noticed that my door handle assembly was already welded. The handle does not seem hard to open but you do have to pull it aaall the way up to get the door opened. When I pull the door panel off to put the new plastic one on I will see if maybe the cable is stretched or if something else is amiss