imported door handles
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,083
Likes: 2
From: Montreal Qc.
Junk. First mine wouldn't open my door, then after trying to adjust it for about an hour the spring started to sag. Better to pay for a real one, or try to find a good condition used original.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,812
Likes: 4
From: Gig Harbor Wa
What he said. The original handle lasted 30 years. I replaced it with the import version and it lasted 2 years. Absolute junk. I just replaced it again with a GM part. The sad thing is the chrome was still good.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Originally Posted by gator79
are they any good? have you had problems with them? I am talking about the outside door handles.
There is a big difference in quality in these handles. The cost of the higher quality handle is nothing compared to the effort to install and adjust it. It is not a job you want to do twice. There are so many moving parts in this set-up that any imprecision in the door handle gets magnified... the import handles are very imprecise. If you go for the less expensive option, you will get to do it all over again...
Good luck... GUSTO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 14
From: Lancaster PA
I got a pair of the imports at Carlisle last year and the vendor assured me they are alot better than they used to be. He said he has had no complaints. So I installed them over the winter and both handles open the door just fine but they the flap hits the handle body and can't return the the resting position. Unfortunetly I don't have a receipt to return them but when I see him next year he will have a complaint. I am now going to replace them with GM handles. If anybody wants some imports they are for sale cheap.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,798
Likes: 25
From: Pine Bluff Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21
I haven't had any luck with the cheaper stuff. Pay more and get the good stuff. It will save you alot of headaches. Larry
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,156
Likes: 3,965
From: Connecticut, USA
The price difference is about $70 between GM and junk. I have both. I used the junk ones to see how long they'll last and so far about 3 years. We did have to readjust the drivers linkage last week but the handle is still holding up. You can see the quality is poor but we'll use them until they fail.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 10
From: Scottsboro Alabama
I replaced one of my door handles with a GM re-pro from The Last Detail. They offer a 20 dollar one but I opted for the 52 buck one. It's made by a outfit called 'Trimparts" located in Ohio. No problems with it. 
