It wears out more and more every day... how do I keep this thing from breaking so I don't have to replace it all the damn time?

thats an easy answer buddy, SHAVE THEM AWAY! lol

Originally posted by eclipse982nrRST
thats an easy answer buddy, SHAVE THEM AWAY! lol

haha beat me to it.

Yup, see sig

Or just use it to crack the door open, and then pull the door open another way ( at the edge ). Thats what I try to do.

Or shave them!

How this is really sad :( damn mitsu
You can always stock pile or can one custom made out of metal. But yeah, just don't ever yank it open.

try this link. http://www.azflight.com/rcaz/sub%20indexes/doorhandlefix/index.htm a guy on this board makes them.
-Todd

Originally posted by BumpinTalon
It wears out more and more every day... how do I keep this thing from breaking so I don't have to replace it all the damn time?

Are you overly abusive when it comes to opening your door? I have had my 2GNT for a year now and never broke one.

And for what MitsuEclipseGS said, yes a local AZ2GNTer makes these, the kit is badass, and takes minimal technical skills to install. My passenger side has one in already, have not had time for the driver yet.

http://www.azflight.com/rcaz/sub%20indexes/doorhandlefix/index.htm

My door handle has never broken, then again I'm gentle with her. On the other hand other people who like to vigerously open and slam my door.. still never breaks. The car has broken fingernails tho on a few gfs... :evilgrin

iv never broken a door handle before, but my bro's 99 broke...i dunno, guess its just luck of the draw and how hard you pull. i dont actually pull open my door by the handle. i just use the handle to pop open the door then grab the inside edge and pull.

Almost every dsm I see around here has one broken off. I was getting in through the passenger door for about a year until it broke. I had to tie a phone cable to the handle on the inside and run it through the hatch to open my doors until I gave in and ordered new ones.

My ears were burning so I figured someone was talking about me.

Yes, I sell "Door Handle Repair Kits" to support my DSM habit. I'm selling most of them back east so I guess the cold weather is settling in back there.

These can be used to fix a broken handle or re-inforce a good one before it breaks at a bad time. You supply the JB Weld and a few hand tools.

www.rcaz.com



Thanks for the good words CODE4.

they'll all eventually break, due to nearly 100% plastic contruction...i'm easy on mine, but i've still had to replace one... what the major cause is, is AFTER you pull on it, and let it go...the spring is quite strong..and snaps the handle down, that force over time starts wearing a weak point in the bend on the lil arm pieces...and they finally give in and break..

I made the first time one breaking the last time.







Which later in on the project i decided i didn't want the 3 piece spolier, anntena and what not..lol

Originally posted by DarkTalon
they'll all eventually break, due to nearly 100% plastic contruction...i'm easy on mine, but i've still had to replace one... what the major cause is, is AFTER you pull on it, and let it go...the spring is quite strong..and snaps the handle down, that force over time starts wearing a weak point in the bend on the lil arm pieces...and they finally give in and break..

Actually, it's not so much the snappy spring return action as the hinge design flaw which leads to a stress riser at the exact point the hinge is required to take the maximum load when in use. The other problem is that the hinge on the side with the spring return and the pushrod reaches its full travel stop slightly before the other hinge does so the load is even heavier on the hinge that is most critical. Just a bad design. It's pretty obvious when you see the number of door handles sold on eBay etc.

How to fix?
1. You can buy new handles (just as weak as the ones you broke).
Approx $120 a pair plus paint if needed.

2. You can buy aftermarket handles (Probably just as weak. I bought some to test for myself). $Approx $80 a pair. These all have to be painted, even for black handles.

3. You can buy used handles and try your luck with them.

4. Shave the door handles. ($Expensive and not too practical for 99% of us.)

5. Install a hinge re-inforcement kit to your old handles. Under $20 including a tube of JB Weld and one of my kits.

Of course I am biased towards my kits since I sell them but seriously, how much time and money do you want to spend on replacing them, only to end up with handles that are no stronger than the ones that just broke?



Here I'm lifting 100 lbs of concrete supported entirely through the two hinges on one of my repaired handles. Want to try that with your new ones? I figured this was a good test that compared to someone pulling on their door after and ice storm had sealed it shut (not in Phoenix of course).

I just broke my drivers side door handle off a few weeks ago. I got into an argument with my girl, stormed out to the car, gave a "gentle" tug on the door...and pow, handle breaks off in my hand. I yelled a few choice words, and proceeded to throw the door handle into the woods. it was after i did this, that i thought damn... i shouldnt have threw it away. Long story short... i couldnt find it. Anyone happen to have an extra one...or know where to get a used one on here, like a junkyard or something? and whats involved in changing one out? do you do it from the outside of the door, or from the inside? thanks.


1997 Silver RS
Built
T3/T4 BB Turbo
20psi
Most current 1/8th mile time: 8.1@93mph 2.015 60'
1996 Black Supra TT
2004 Silver Snake

Here is an excellent online photo tech topic for the handle replacement.

http://www.prostreetonline.com/pso/pages/howto/showarticle.asp?articleid=20

There is one important removal tip I can give you that is not mentioned in the tech topic. At the very end of removing the handle from the door you must remove the plastic "keeper" on the actuating rod in order to get the handle out. The trick is to also remove the three screws from the actual door latch. Now the rod and the plastic clip will pull out of the door just enough to make removal and re-install much easier.

You can find new and used handles on ebay for anywhere from $35 and up depending on condition. A new factory handle is about $55 from some places but usually in primer black. There are now aftermarket handles being sold on ebay for about $10 less but I suspect they are prone to breakage like the factory ones. I have a set of aftermarket handles on the way to test if my repair inserts will fix those too. Junkyards around here rarely have door handles since they break all the time they are gone fast.

Wow, Ive had mine for 4 years and havent had a prob yet, yet.

i havent had this problem yet but i knew i probably would down the line so while my car is in the body shop im getting them to shave them..it looks better without the handles anyway..

shave the handles, looks very clean