98 Silverado-replace interior driver side door handle

[mcconaughy]

My driver side door handle broke. I took the interior door loose to get to it and after I bought the replacement handle it looks like it should just slide in without taking the whole interior door apart. It looks like it might just slide to one side after the molding around door handle is removed. I haven't done much body work and everything kind of snaps together which is great if you know how it works but I would like to not break anything if possible.
In my case the plastic handle broke but I have the whole "module" that has the handle and door lock in same component.
Has anyone done this before?

[DeWynter]

Originally Posted by mcconaughy

My driver side door handle broke. I took the interior door loose to get to it and after I bought the replacement handle it looks like it should just slide in without taking the whole interior door apart. It looks like it might just slide to one side after the molding around door handle is removed. I haven't done much body work and everything kind of snaps together which is great if you know how it works but I would like to not break anything if possible.
In my case the plastic handle broke but I have the whole "module" that has the handle and door lock in same component.
Has anyone done this before?

I just bought a 1995 with the driver door handle broke. You have to remove the whole door panel. To do this you must undo the two screws in the cup like handle for pulling the door closed, you must also take the trim ring off of the actual handle (the broken thing). Carefull not to break any of the plastic pins holding the door pnael to the door. Then once you have the panel off you will have to drill out the rivet that holds the handel to the door. Slide it frward and pull it out( towards the inside of the truck) Then remove the two metal bars hooked to the handle and the lock, they just snap out kinda a ball and socket type thing. Then find a screw or new rivet to replace the one you drilled out. Then do everything backwards. If you break any of the little plastic things off when taking off the panel or puting it back on, just go to the nearest body shop and get some new ones.

[mcconaughy]

Thanks for the answer, on the replacement it looks like it just might slide on and be held by the plastic clips built onto the unit. I thought it might just slide forward but it makes sense I guess that it is riveted too.
Appreciate your reply!!

[96chevyman]

I had to replace this same piece on my '96 after it broke off in my hand. I actually looked at an aftermarket part from O'reilly's that was only about $14, but it was only available in gray, not red. So I purchased the new one from Chevy for around $40. For anyone who doesn't know, this piece is an entire unit - the handle, the plastic piece, and the lock assembly. To replace it, you will have to remove the entire door panel. You will also need a flat-blade screwdriver, a phillips #2 screwdriver, a drill and your choice of bits, and a flat pry tool (putty knife or auto upholstery tool).

Here's a quick step by step for anyone who needs this in the future:
1. Unscrew the retaining screws that hold in the cup-handle that you use to pull the door shut.
2. If you have power windows/locks, gently pry under the back part of the switch panel. It will pop up and will need to slide backwards so that you can pull the unit out. Once you have it loose, gently undo each of the four wiring harnesses - one for locks, one for mirrors, one for windows, and one for the speaker/tweeter.
3. Gently pry the edges of the entire door panel with your putty knife or upholstery clip tool where you can feel resistance from the retaining clips. Watch out - there are quite a few and they are very easy to break. There are around 3 on each side and 4 along the bottom of the panel. Also, you will have to loosen the cup around the door lock assembly. I used a flat-blade screwdriver to get it loose. Then you will have to pull up on the panel to get it to come out of the window channel. Be careful to pull too fast on the door though if you have the door light in the lower left-hand corner. You can easily reach up and pull this out of it's holder on the back of the panel. Then there shouldn't be anything to worry about and you can pull the panel up and off when all the clips are loose.
4. Once the panel is gone, you will see that there is a rivet in the lower left corner of the door handle assembly. Drill this out - I used a 1/2in bit to just get the head off of the rivet. Once you have the head off, the pin is still and can't fall back in the door because of how you drilled it - it should have spread a little. Then take a flat-blade screwdriver and pry the back of the plastic door handle assembly off of the spread rivet. Once the door handle assembly has cleared the rivet, the entire assembly will slide forward and come loose.
5. Slowly pull the assembly away from the door. You will have to undo the linkages to the door lock and latch mechanisms. I used a pair of needle-nose pliers to reach in and pull the linkages out of the arms on the old door handle assembly. Don't worry about the linkages falling - if you are careful, they should just stay in place (or at least mine didn't move). Undo both and pull the old assembly away and throw that piece of crap against the cement and enjoy watching it break into pieces.
6. Now you can either remove the old rivet and replace it or use it again and spread it later. If you are going to replace, do it now while you have the door holder assembly out and you can get to it. Relink the two linkages to the new assembly and align the plastic tabs to slide back into place. Slide the assembly backwards, making sure it clears your rivet or replacement tab. If you replaced the tab, put a nut on it or secure it however you can. If you used the rivet, align the rivet and the rivet hole on the door handle assembly and gently tap the assembly onto the rivet. once you have it in place, spread the leftover head of the rivet enough that it secures the assembly and can't slide off. You might even be able to use a small self-tapping screw and drill it into the leftover rivet pin. Whichever you choose - I used the existing rivet and spread the head. I tried to pry on it afterwards and it didn't want to come loose, so I deemed it good enough.
7. Check all of your pins and move any if necessary so you know your panel will be stable when you reinstall it. Sit the panel down into the window channel and line up the two top pins and push them in until they click once. Then reach up under the bottom of the panel and reattach your door light onto the panel. Line up the rest of the pins and push them into place. Don't forget about the ones that sit around the ring of the door handle. This is the most frustrating step, so be patient and don't force anything into place.
8. Reconnect all of your wiring harnesses to the switch panel and slide the top of the switch panel into the door panel and push down until it snaps in place.
9. Replace the two screws in the top of the door handle cup.
10. Put all of your crap back in the door panel holders.

Total teardown and rebuild time - about 1-1.5 hours (including going to O'Reilly's for a replacement door light bulb and to find out that they were out of stock of the plastic door panel pins)

Hope this helps someone.

[mcconaughy]

Chevyman, thank you for your well thought out reply. I replaced the piece about 3 weeks ago. It wasn't that hard, just replaced the riveted part with a bolt and nut.
Thanks.