Driver's side door handle

[tucker0104]

I recently broke my driver's side door handle trying to open my door. Are there any stronger handles out there besides for the stock handle?

[351fifty]

they have the repalcement at auto zone in the help, not sure about a billet one though, how strong do you need it to be? mine are the same from over 10 years of use never had a problem with one braking as long as you pull up and towards you.

[superduty4x4]

IMO, stick to the plastic handle so it's the weak link.
What is happening is one of two things, either the cable that goes from the handle to the latch has stretched, or the handle is loose on the door or has cracked the inner door skin and is flexing too much. Pop the door panel off and take a look in there and try to find/fix the source of the problem.

[tucker0104]

Thanks for the advice.

[farmallcrew]

Mine broke too. so i superglued it and switched with the back door. I have a crew cab. the glue didnt hold it togeter for a week. partstrain.com has replacement handles for like 3 dollars. i didnt get any yet. i also think my cable is streched because i need to like pull the door off the hinges here of late to open it. i guess its time to get the grinder out. haha.

and also for crew cabs watch the rear door down at the bottom, my power window wasnt working so i thought it was the switch. nope!!!! all the wires going from the truck to the door were cracked the whole way through, tight spot to work in but now the window works like a champ again.

[pork chop]

If you get the older metal handles (available at the discount auto parts store in the Help! aisle), they bolt on and are stronger. You could paint them or plastic dip them black to make them match better.

[pork chop]

The earlier metal handle supposedly fits. You can paint it or plastic dip it to make it match more. They are plenty cheap at the discount auto parts store in the Help! section.

[KTM500]

I made a handle out of a piece of ~3/16ths cold rolled steel that I cut to shape and bent up to resemble the contours of the stocker. I then made a small base plate complete with bolt hole and notch that I welded to the 'stem' of the handle. It bolted up perfectly and at the right angle to the door. I did also notice that my cable had stretched some too. I fixed that by makling a small bushing out of a bit of plastic tube whose i/d is about twice that of the cable itself. Worked like a charm.

[UNDERCOVER_73]

II used the Chrome door handles out of a 87s f150 they ae metal and will bolt right up. I also had to weld and repair the backet part of it.

Im evuantully gonna paint them black. got a full set and the junk yard.

i can put up a pix if u want?

[bucwheat]

Had mine on for 14 years with no problems