Driver Side Door Handle Spring (pic)
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Ridgecrest CA
Driver Side Door Handle Spring (pic)
Already done a search, but no luck.
Hey all. This morning i went out to go to work and when i pushed the handle down to get into the vette, it didn't come back up. There is still a small amount of resistance so that I can open and close the door, but I can see that the spring that usually returns the handle to the up position has snapped (a small part of it is sticking out). Is it possible to replace these springs, and how difficult is it?? Or will I have to get a new door handle.
Hey all. This morning i went out to go to work and when i pushed the handle down to get into the vette, it didn't come back up. There is still a small amount of resistance so that I can open and close the door, but I can see that the spring that usually returns the handle to the up position has snapped (a small part of it is sticking out). Is it possible to replace these springs, and how difficult is it?? Or will I have to get a new door handle.
Last edited by Runnik; May 18, 2006 at 02:29 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 1
From: AL
you can replace those springs. taking the door handle off the car is the hardest part. i had some extension springs saved in a can from whenever and just bent the ends straight to match the original. you will need to punch out a pin, fiddle with the spring, and reinsert the pin; that's about it. you can also pick up those springs at the local hardware store. works like a charm!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Ridgecrest CA
Originally Posted by S489
you can replace those springs. taking the door handle off the car is the hardest part. i had some extension springs saved in a can from whenever and just bent the ends straight to match the original. you will need to punch out a pin, fiddle with the spring, and reinsert the pin; that's about it. you can also pick up those springs at the local hardware store. works like a charm!
Awsome! Thanks a lot. Now, how hard is it to get the door handle out??
Yes, I'm a newb 
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
Just found this spring that you can slip in without taking the handle off. Seems like a pretty good idea...
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1446
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1446
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Ridgecrest CA
Originally Posted by mensch53
Just found this spring that you can slip in without taking the handle off. Seems like a pretty good idea...
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1446
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1446
Wow, you guys are great! I LOVE THIS FORUM!!!
I think I am going to pick one of those up. Thanks for sharing that find that mensch53!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 1
From: AL
those have been around a while, but i've not heard any reports on how they work. evidently they work okay. the only reason i mentioned the other way is 'cause some prefer a stock type spring. let us know how it works!
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 2
From: rockwall tx
if your going through the trouble of taking the old door handle out then i would just replace it with a new one. that nut that is in the top corner of the door is a bear to get off and back on, i dont want to have to do that again. plus you can pick up the reproduction door handles for about $25. just put the drivers side on my 78 and it works like a charm.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
To get the door handle off, the hard part is to get the two nuts off the door handle bottom.
There are a couple of rods that use clips to connect to the lock mechanism. Once there are removed, you will need to use an open ended wrench and try to remove the farthest bolt 1/4 turn for each time. There is just not enough room to get in there with any thing else.
From doing research on the forum you may find that the long way around is perhaps the best. That is to remove the door lock mechanism itself in order to get to the bolts.
Once the door handle is out of the car you can follow the previous advice of removing the long pin that holds the door handle to the cup assembly, and the springs.
kdf
There are a couple of rods that use clips to connect to the lock mechanism. Once there are removed, you will need to use an open ended wrench and try to remove the farthest bolt 1/4 turn for each time. There is just not enough room to get in there with any thing else.
From doing research on the forum you may find that the long way around is perhaps the best. That is to remove the door lock mechanism itself in order to get to the bolts.
Once the door handle is out of the car you can follow the previous advice of removing the long pin that holds the door handle to the cup assembly, and the springs.
kdf
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
I just put new handles in mine 2 weeks ago. As mentioned, to remove or install, just remove the 3 screws on the outside back of hte door, that will allow the door latch to drop down enough to give you a little more room to get to the back nut on the door handle. If you decide to replace them, get the $60 one, not the $30 one, I've heard of more than one person who put the cheaper repro on and it didn't last long
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,390
Likes: 2
From: New Castle DE
Originally Posted by mensch53
Just found this spring that you can slip in without taking the handle off. Seems like a pretty good idea...
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1446
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1446
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Originally Posted by mensch53
Just found this spring that you can slip in without taking the handle off. Seems like a pretty good idea...
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1446
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1446
Once the handle is out you will find that the spring has usually rusted away or is broken. I bought a replacement used handle at Corvettes at Carlisle just for the spring. Slide the shaft out that the handle rotates around pull out the old spring, slide in the new one and re-install. While I was at that point, I pulled the lock mechanism and soaked them to remove the 33 years of grime and dirt. Re-lubed with white lithium grease and the locks worked like new.
Gary
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
I thought you were talking about this spring? I believe that's the one I need but I really have a problem with that price especially when I would like to replace both.
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1446
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1446
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Originally Posted by alotaball
it may be a band aid .. but it works well .. put one on my fathers vette years ago .. no problems... guess it all depends on how much work you want to do 
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1446
was available when I fixed my door handle using the method described. Regardless, I would still go with either a repro door handle and use parts from it to make my original handle work as designed or I would fix the handle with a nice used example.
Gary
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
GaryS, I tried you link but it doesn't seem to work. After looking closer, it seems identical to the one I posted. I don't know why yours won't work for me. Hmmmmm?????
By the way.....does anyone know which store would sell them.....Non corvette related store eg. Hardware?
By the way.....does anyone know which store would sell them.....Non corvette related store eg. Hardware?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1446
Didn't work for me either and all I did was copy from the preceding post. The above post may work. I doubt that you will find a hardware store spring that will be dimensionally correct and have the same spring rate. You might get lucky though, if you have a good working example.
Gary
Didn't work for me either and all I did was copy from the preceding post. The above post may work. I doubt that you will find a hardware store spring that will be dimensionally correct and have the same spring rate. You might get lucky though, if you have a good working example.
Gary
