Fix for broken door latch

[jseabolt]

I realize you can probably buy these new door handles for $25 or whatever but if you are like me and see a way of fixing something for basically nothing, then why not go for it.

 

So one day the driver's side rear door on my '98 1500 Express would not open. Because this is a conversion van, it took more time to remove the panel and trim than it did to remove the door handle. If it was just a cargo van with a plastic panel that just covered the access hole, it probably would have not been such a big deal.

 

 

The inner door handle like allot of door handles are made of pot metal and the piece that the spring wraps around and holds the mechanism that operates the rods that go up and down broke. So when the handle was pulled, it would not raise the bars preventing the door from opening.

 

The trick was to drill out the broken piece with something like a 1/4" drill bit which is cast into the door handle and replace it with a machine screw, nut and some flat washers to get the "catch" spaced correctly. You can probably see where I used about four or five washers. Don't forget to use Lock-Tite!

 

 

 

I could not figure out how this spring went back in. It allows the handle to retract (so to speak). The handle sort of flops around but does not hinder the door opening or closing.

 

 

The side swing out doors use this same latch so if it ever breaks, I now know how to fix it.