Added driver assist handle and trim won’t line up now (pic)

[BillK01]

Just a quick update.  The second driver assist handle came today.  So I removed the one that wasn’t fitting how I liked.  I then lopped off the guide pin with my oscillating saw and tried it again with no luck.

 

So I unboxed the new one and tried it.  Unfortunately it seemed to fit only slightly better than the other one.  After another 5 or 6 tries I finally decided that the welded on brackets the bolts screw into must be off a bit because as soon as the bolts start snugging up the entire assist handle slowly rotates down exposing the A pillar metal along the windshield.

 

I did my best McGyver and dug around in my toolchest and found a moderately thick rubber washer and cut it in half.  I then applied it to lower portion of the bracket and tried reinstalling the handle.  Bingo!  It worked.  There is still a tiny bit of the pillar showing but it’s much better than before and I can live with it now.  Having that thick rubber washer below each bolt seems to have kept the handle from rotating down once tightened up!  I wish I could have got it without all the fussing but at least it looks presentable now.  (Sorry again about the rotation.  I can’t figure out how to fix it.)

 

[SS502]

25 minutes ago, BillK01 said:

Just a quick update.  The second driver assist handle came today.  So I removed the one that wasn’t fitting how I liked.  I then lopped off the guide pin with my oscillating saw and tried it again with no luck.

 

So I unboxed the new one and tried it.  Unfortunately it seemed to fit only slightly better than the other one.  After another 5 or 6 tries I finally decided that the welded on brackets the bolts screw into must be off a bit because as soon as the bolts start snugging up the entire assist handle slowly rotates down exposing the A pillar metal along the windshield.

 

I did my best McGyver and dug around in my toolchest and found a moderately thick rubber washer and cut it in half.  I then applied it to lower portion of the bracket and tried reinstalling the handle.  Bingo!  It worked.  There is still a tiny bit of the pillar showing but it’s much better than before and I can live with it now.  Having that thick rubber washer below each bolt seems to have kept the handle from rotating down once tightened up!  I wish I could have got it without all the fussing but at least it looks presentable now.  (Sorry again about the rotation.  I can’t figure out how to fix it.)

 

So does the handle have a little “play” in it with the rubber washer or is it solid? Looks good. Wish I had your Shark fin, mines black.

[BillK01]

5 minutes ago, SS502 said:

So does the handle have a little “play” in it with the rubber washer or is it solid? Looks good. Wish I had your Shark fin, mines black.

No play at all.  It was a pretty dense/heavy washer and the bolts both tightened up really snug.

[JesseSPI]

On 12/12/2018 at 2:14 PM, O_J_Simpson said:

Post a video of you installing it and we can tell you where you are going wrong. It will never be perfect as there is often a small gap at the head liner but should never be that bad.

I have a gap on the top of mine and was wondering if I can take a heat gun to it and try to close it up a little. Any thoughts? Of course I would remove it first and go by trial and error. Is it even worth it?

[sirooga]

Mine was off the first couple tries. Key to fixing it for me was getting the little lip by the window to snap into place first. Once I got it to snap all the way down it went on perfect...no wiggle and no gap.

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[uood8]

Just Installed this to my truck, fit perfect with no gap. I did not cut off the alignment rod either.

[mikedeezxxx]

Just a quick update.  The second driver assist handle came today.  So I removed the one that wasn’t fitting how I liked.  I then lopped off the guide pin with my oscillating saw and tried it again with no luck.
 
So I unboxed the new one and tried it.  Unfortunately it seemed to fit only slightly better than the other one.  After another 5 or 6 tries I finally decided that the welded on brackets the bolts screw into must be off a bit because as soon as the bolts start snugging up the entire assist handle slowly rotates down exposing the A pillar metal along the windshield.
 
I did my best McGyver and dug around in my toolchest and found a moderately thick rubber washer and cut it in half.  I then applied it to lower portion of the bracket and tried reinstalling the handle.  Bingo!  It worked.  There is still a tiny bit of the pillar showing but it’s much better than before and I can live with it now.  Having that thick rubber washer below each bolt seems to have kept the handle from rotating down once tightened up!  I wish I could have got it without all the fussing but at least it looks presentable now.  (Sorry again about the rotation.  I can’t figure out how to fix it.)
 

What’s the part number for your driver side assist handle? Need same color as yours. Thank you.


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[BillK01]

6 hours ago, mikedeezxxx said:

What’s the part number for your driver side assist handle? Need same color as yours. Thank you.


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Part number: 23285089

[mikedeezxxx]

Part number: 23285089

Thank you


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[Cupton]

Part number: 23285089

Yes, thank you! I’ve got about 1.5 feet I need to try and shimmy my way out of the truck when parking in the garage so I think I need this handle. I’m not as flexible as I used to be! Over 40 sucks. Ha!

[SS502]

5 minutes ago, Cupton said:

Yes, thank you! I’ve got about 1.5 feet I need to try and shimmy my way out of the truck when parking in the garage so I think I need this handle. I’m not as flexible as I used to be! Over 40 sucks. Ha!

Oh yeah it does..LOL! I find I use mine every time I get in or out (I do have a 2.25 level so it sits a bit higher) and I think it will help with seat wear too! Mine went in without any gaps or fitment issues so it sucks there are some that are having problems...

[Cupton]

4 minutes ago, SS502 said:

Oh yeah it does..LOL! I find I use mine every time I get in or out (I do have a 2.25 level so it sits a bit higher) and I think it will help with seat wear too! Mine went in without any gaps or fitment issues so it sucks there are some that are having problems...

I think it will definitely help with seat wear. I had my lower seat cover replaced in my ‘15 because it split in “the spot” and I don’t want the same thing to happen in my ‘18. Hopefully it lines up after install. I’ve been following this thread so we will see!

[Cupton]

Dang, I think that’s for the more tan color. Mine is the gray(ish) color. Nothing a search won’t find for me! Too bad it’s too late to cancel the Amazon order. At least they make it easy to return! Live and learn. I was too punchy on making that purchase.

 

Edit: looks like the gray part number is: 23285090

[SS502]

7 minutes ago, Cupton said:

Dang, I think that’s for the more tan color. Mine is the gray(ish) color. Nothing a search won’t find for me! Too bad it’s too late to cancel the Amazon order. At least they make it easy to return! Live and learn. I was too punchy on making that purchase.

 

Edit: looks like the gray part number is: 23285090

Yep, that's the gray one. You can find it cheaper than what is on AMAZON.

[txrangersfan]

On 12/11/2018 at 7:09 PM, BillK01 said:

So the second thing I did to my new Sierra 1500 is add the driver assist handle like is in the passenger side.

Everything went smoothly and I was happy until I looked at the truck from the front and noticed some of the interior portion of the A pillar is now exposed and the edge of the new handle doesn’t cover it.  I have had it off and on 5 or 6 times tryin to get it to line up with no luck.  Has anyone else had this experience?  Attached is a pic of what I’m talking about.  Sorry the rotation is funky.

 

I had similar problem with 2 different handles on my Silverado. Wasn’t a snug fit at the top. Finally had the dealer do it and fits like a glove.  I’m guessing snapping in windshield edge first does the trick.  

 

BTW I’m willing to send anyone one of my 2 ‘rejects’ if you cover shipping (Part# 23285090).  PM if interested.