Installing Inside Door Handle (99 Tahoe)

[diggity101]

Has anyone ever installed the interior door handle for the Tahoe?

After taking the inside part of the door off and getting to the actual handle shell, I am having trouble removing a solid metal, crimp on looking bolt. This is preventing me from removing the old door handle and installing a new one. Anyone ever head experience with anything like this.

Any help is appreciated as I am sick of rolling down window to open the door (so is my motor)!

[bartlanz]

I have replaced mine, if i recal, there where a couple of screws and a rivit. one you remove the rivits, i disconected the little rods that go to the lock and door assy, and the thing slid off, took the new one, slid it in, hooked it up and riveted it back in place. bada bing bada boom new handel.

[stl1psu]

Mine just broke last night. Where did you find your new handle and if you bought it new from a dealership, what is the part number.

Thanks

[bartlanz]

I dont remember what the PN was, but it is rite on the assy. Also you might want to examine your outside door handel for cracks and replace it at the same time, I just did mine 2 days ago.

I got both handles, inside and out, from the dealership. no sence in messing with parts that might not be the rite thing when they where only like 20 or 30 bux each

[stl1psu]

Thanks Bart, Outside handle looked good. Dealership had one in stock so I had it replaced within 24 hrs.

Steve

[edwiniarski]

Originally Posted by stl1psu

Thanks Bart, Outside handle looked good. Dealership had one in stock so I had it replaced within 24 hrs.

Steve

Gentlemen,
'99 Tahoe
Having trouble w/ inside driver's door handle - won't open the door. If I could get the panel off the inside of the door, I'm sure I could fix it but the panel hangs up at the handle & won't come off. Never tried this before, so I don't want to break it. Any help?

[scottrnelson]

Originally Posted by ed winiarski

Gentlemen,
'99 Tahoe
Having trouble w/ inside driver's door handle - won't open the door. If I could get the panel off the inside of the door, I'm sure I could fix it but the panel hangs up at the handle & won't come off. Never tried this before, so I don't want to break it. Any help?

Very simple job, remove the 2 screws from the door arm rest. Then there is a trim cap around the door handle, it has four lock tabs, one on each side. You need a small flat bar to compress and release the clips. once this is done, use a wide blade putty knife (3" or 4" blade is best) to pop the door panel loose.
Once you have the panel removed, the handle is fully exposed. Use a 1/4" drill bit to drill out the rivet at the bottom of the handle, (but don't drill to deep), just enough to cut the head off of the rivet. Slide the handle forward about 1/2 inch or so (Kind of stiff to slide). Remove the lock and handle linkages and then install the new handle.
You will need a small cap screw or machine bolt (3/16 X 1/2" or #10 X 1/2", both the same size) with washer, lock washer, and nut to replace the rivet you just drilled out. Then put it all back the way it came off. A simple 45 min to 1 hour job if you have all your parts and tools in advance.
Handle is about 35.00 dollars at the Dealership and the panel lock pins 1.25 each. it is a good idea to go ahead and get about 6 or 8, because at their age, you are going to break a couple of them.