bj1k

Has anybody found a trick for easy installation of that nasty rear nut on the outside door handle ? Not easy for big hands.

oldboat

the only way i can do it is to remove the door latch. take out the three large phillips screws at the back of the door and you can lower the latch to give you lots more room to work. sorry i don't have a picture.

redrdstr72

Yep. I did mine (several times) using much the same process as oldboat describes. One additional tip I can offer would be to use a 1/4" drive 7/16" SWIVEL socket to remove and replace the hex nuts. The rear one is a bear, so be patient and make sure women and children are out of earshot when you do the work.

You might also want to have a few band aids handy. It's not the toughest job I've done on my car, but it isn't the easiest either.

If you are replacing your handles with new reproduction parts, and if originality is important to you, take the time and remove the silver paint that's down in the handle's well before installing. It makes the rough chrome plating look a little nicer, but it isn't consistent with factory production and at least in the earlier C3's, the paint will earn you a deduct. You can use a small brush and lacquer thinner to remove the silver paint. DO NOT attempt to remove the silver paint while the handle is on the door. Lacquer thinner is paint remover.....

bj1k

I agree, that's the only way I could do it , but I still had a hard time getting my big hands up to that rear nut even with the latch out.

redrdstr72

One more thought comes to my mind on this project - double mask the perimeter of the hole in the body that the new handle will install to. When installing the handle, you will need to "shoehorn" it in and if not careful, you will scratch the paint and hate yourself. I used double thickness painters tape, removing it once the handle and gasket are placed and before torquing the 2 hex nuts to secure.

Hope this helps.

bj1k

Even though we love these cars , they definitely weren't designed to be easily worked on. Especially the drivers side dash panel. Everything seems to be crammed in there.

C3 4ME

Agreed, remove the 3 screws that hold the latch in place, and it drops down enough to not make it a terrible job. As I recall, simply used a box end wrench to put the nut on. Tedious yes; impossible, no.

PeteL46

I would get one of the neighbors kid preferably a teenage boy. I don't have this issue, my wife is always ready to lend a hand; no pun inteneded. 5 foot 2 with pretty small hands. LOL

donnie1956

I had a few spare 7/16 wrench's and did some custom bends on the open end for a better angle at the back nut. Then I switch back and forth with the 2 wrench's to get a 1/8 turn at a time. Careful with the clip that holds the linkage. Taking the mirror off also sucks.