removing door locks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 852
Likes: 0
From: Katy TX
This is likely to turn into a "while you are at it job'. I just finished pulling most of the guts out of my doors and I completely cleaned and re-greased the window tracks, door latches and handles. Once I had the window and tracks out the door lock was easily accessible. There was a flat, slide on spring clip holding the lock tumbler. I did not really look before having everything else out but I have my doubts that it is very easy to get to with the window still in. There really are not that many parts in there so just pull the door panel and continue removing parts until you can get to it. If you decide to clean everything up I can tell you that it is well worth the time. My doors actually work like a normal car again.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
When I got my car, the locks had been switched when the car was painted. I took the door panels off and was able to get the locks out without removing anything else. Re-installation required the help of my daughter's somewhat smaller hands, but we got the job done right with a minimal amount of frustration. While I had the panel off, I lubricated the door lock mechanisms (work great now) and the window mechanism (works, but not great). Most people gripe about the "Jesus clips" holding the window crank and lock **** on, I bought a tool for removing them that worked great on the cranks but not on the *****. I used a stiff paper clip, straightened and bent into a little hook to get the ***** off, it was no big deal. The hardest part of the job was getting the screw at the top of the door pull back into its hole.
