door handle spring
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
door handle spring
does anyone make just the spring for a 81 outside door handle? I have seen it for earlier models. I just tried the flat repair spring they sell but it still droops. I would replace the whole handle but the car has been repainted and I am afraid the new one might not fit exactly like the old one and you would be able to see a paint line.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,083
Likes: 2
From: Montreal Qc.
ttt for ya, someone must have one. You may be disappointed in a new handle unless you get a "real" one (expensive), I got a reproduction one and it started sagging while I was adjusting the rod/linkage. It was pure crap, I put my broken original handle back on.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
I took one apart a few years back and replaced the spring with one I had and it worked for a while but it eventually failed as well. The springs tend to fail because they rust. They come apart pretty easily; all you need to do is remove the rod in the handle that acts as a hinge.
The problem is finding a spring that will last any longer than the original. I haven't found one yet. What we need is a small, but long, tightly wound spring made of something that doesn’t rust??? I have had good luck with the clip springs that most of the vendors sell. Be careful as you install it and bend it no more than necessary.
As Star79 mentioned, most of the replacements unfortunately look like cheap imitations and I’ll wait for something better to come along… unless someone comes up with a better spring to put in them… what we need is a small, but long, tightly wound spring made of something that doesn’t rust???
GUSTO
The problem is finding a spring that will last any longer than the original. I haven't found one yet. What we need is a small, but long, tightly wound spring made of something that doesn’t rust??? I have had good luck with the clip springs that most of the vendors sell. Be careful as you install it and bend it no more than necessary.
As Star79 mentioned, most of the replacements unfortunately look like cheap imitations and I’ll wait for something better to come along… unless someone comes up with a better spring to put in them… what we need is a small, but long, tightly wound spring made of something that doesn’t rust???
GUSTO
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Originally Posted by gator79
what type of spring did you use?
If you look at one of the original springs, they really are pretty unique. It's very tightly wound, to fit in such a small space, somewhat like a screen door spring, but of course much smaller, closer to the size of a ballpoint pen spring. At the same time, the spring filament is very thick to generate the torque needed to return the handle. As I said, kind'a unique.
The replacement clip spring, I currently use, I believe I bought from Paragon...
GUSTO
