Fixing Door Handles

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Oct 26, 2012 | 12:50 AM

amazingarthur

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Intermediate

Joined: Aug 2006

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Fixing Door Handles

How do I level the door handles on the outside doors? They are pushed in at a 45ish degree angle. Thanks.

Oct 26, 2012 | 11:02 AM

MelWff

Race Director

Joined: May 2006

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Have you tried lubricating them. If that didnt work than the springs on the handles maybe shot. Vendors carry a small spring clip to act as an assist or you can replace the handles.

Oct 26, 2012 | 02:12 PM

SuperBuickGuy

Melting Slicks

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 2,548

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From: Woodinville WA

FWIW - pulling those handles is one of the toughest jobs there is on a Corvette. I never pay to have work done on a hobby car - yet I paid to have that done by a mechanic... wasn't cheap, but since I still have my sanity; I figure that's worth something (shush peanut gallery

)

Oct 26, 2012 | 06:25 PM

joshtried

Burning Brakes

Joined: Mar 2008

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From: Denver, CO

St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10

sometimes, just loosening the bolts that retain the handles in the doors will allow the handle to return to its appropriate position

Oct 26, 2012 | 07:53 PM

0Willcox Corvette

Former Vendor

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Posts: 76,656

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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103

St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15

In most cases when the handle sags it is from the pot metal housing and lid wearing out on the steel pivot hinge pin. The hinge pin is steel and hard, the housing is made from what we call pot metal and soft. The best way to tell is to look and see if the lid is actually dragging inside the housing cup.

You can try lubrication in the hinge and you could install “Helper” springs. Sometimes the helper springs work but in most cases it is only a band aide.

http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=15301

Only real solution I know of is to replace the handles and if you go this route make sure the handle is the USA made trim parts handle.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...handle%20assem

Willcox

Oct 26, 2012 | 09:05 PM

C3 4ME

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 6,247

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From: Glen Allen, VA

Take the plastic splash sheild out of the door, and take the 3 screws out that hold the latch in place, allowing it to drop down, and replaceing the handles becomes a lot easier. I' ve done a lot of projects on mine that I would consider harder than door handle replacement. FWIW, I'd just go ahead an replace both of them with USA made only, as the quality of offshore replacements is suspect.

Oct 27, 2012 | 05:32 PM

DWS44

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jun 2005

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From: Rock Hill SC (Charlotte NC Area)

2022 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified

2022 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified

Not to hijack, but since we're on the subject of door handles...On my recently-acquired 81, the door handles both work, but seem VERY stiff at the point where it starts to actually open the door. The springs seem to work fine, in that the handles return to surface level once the door is open, and you don't have to push hard until you get to where it starts to unlatch the door, but at that point, I have to almost use two hands to push down hard enough to release the door. I'm assuming it should take that much effort to open the door...any thoughts? Opening from the inside latch doesn't take much effort at all.

Oct 27, 2012 | 07:09 PM

24695bob

Burning Brakes

Joined: May 2004

Posts: 1,201

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From: Frederick Md

DO not insert that "spring" upside down...I did that on one of my 76's door 3 weeks ago...and I still have not taken the door apart and attempt to remove the spring..

I just ordered a new complete door handle..

I've replaced the door handles on all 3 of my C3's and I honestly do not understand what is so hard about doing it...not time consuming and definitely not hard to do...

Bob G.