Replace The Front Door Handles w/ A Sedans Rears

Parts Needed
1 pass side rear door handle off a sedan
1 drivers side rear door handle off a sedan
2 boxes "Door lock rod clips" from advanced p#75450
(what you really need is the black clips in the boxes)
2 small stainless steel bolts 2" long roughly the same as a standard rivet
2 stainless steel nuts
ALOT OF PATIENTS

Tools
T30 Torque Star (Long Handle)
10mm Ratchet w/ Long Extension
Flat Head Screw Driver
Razor Blade

Time
15 Mins Per Side

Process

1. Gather the parts list & tools
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/249636_10150635416125335_558740334_19064911_594883 0_n.jpg

2. this is the clip you must replace (the black one)
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248056_10150635415885335_558740334_19064908_546037 _n.jpg

3. we need to remove the door panel, start by removing the dressing clips w/ a flat head (mine is curved at the tip so it's more like a mini crowbar)
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250580_10150635507260335_558740334_19065636_462481 4_n.jpg

4. now undo the torque screws, there is only 2 and they are a T30

5. now pull the whole panel off and disconnect the wires, the door panel is now able to be removed
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/249558_10150635509025335_558740334_19065672_686967 4_n.jpg

6. remove the plastic protector screen
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/247125_10150635510205335_558740334_19065682_678505 5_n.jpg

7. remove the Styrofoam
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/249776_10150635510615335_558740334_19065686_635500 3_n.jpg

8. now remove the two 10mm bolts holding in the door handle
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248834_10150635510710335_558740334_19065687_378263 7_n.jpg

9. now carefully remove the door handle from the car until the rods prevent it from coming out any farther
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250199_10150635511960335_558740334_19065692_491105 1_n.jpg

10. how follow the handle rod down till you find the locking clip, it's black and a though bugger, but a little brute force and it'll pop open
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250906_10150635511385335_558740334_19065689_426054 _n.jpg

11. now take a razor blade and break off the locking tabs (do this now for the rear handles as well
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/248462_10150635512705335_558740334_19065694_293405 8_n.jpg

12. remove the handle completely, here you can see the brackets are on the wrong side.
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248978_10150635516230335_558740334_19065731_155685 8_n.jpg

13. cut the rivets off the old handle where the bracket is and the new handle on the same side
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/250758_10150635519085335_558740334_19065743_713966 1_n.jpg

14. remove the bracket off the old handle
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/249274_10150635521850335_558740334_19065786_477871 2_n.jpg

15. insert it into the new handle, you will need to bend the locking peg so it can fit into the channel, now here comes the hard part, bend the bracket so that the one with the prong goes from 90 degrees to 45 degrees. this step is the key to the whole thing working correctly. if it isn't bent correctly to lock the bracket into place this mod will not work!!!
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/250698_10150635524240335_558740334_19065842_343813 8_n.jpg

16. i left the old bracket on the door handle. it doesn't really matter if you leave it or not
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/248984_10150635527530335_558740334_19065904_268849 0_n.jpg

17. i used a stainless screw and nut instead of a rivet to replace the one we had to cut out
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/248984_10150635527530335_558740334_19065904_268849 0_n.jpg

18. another important step is to place the black rod clip into the new bracket before you put the rod in
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/248984_10150635527530335_558740334_19065904_268849 0_n.jpg
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/248503_10150635528270335_558740334_19065916_222914 5_n.jpg

19. this is how you place the rod back in. now carefully place the handle back into the hole. loosely add the bolts.
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/248462_10150635512705335_558740334_19065694_293405 8_n.jpg

20. straighten the rod, and clip the rod back into it's holder.

21. tighten the bolts up completely

22. check your work (also check the windows in case your rod is in the way)

23. reinstall the styrofoam

24. replace the plastic

25. reinstall the door panel

26. congrats you have just done this mod +35 exp


before
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/197336_10150520647600335_558740334_18167492_162649 _n.jpg

after
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/247137_10150635555765335_558740334_19066147_125597 7_n.jpg
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250110_10150635555970335_558740334_19066149_780968 7_n.jpg

Please Post Your Results In This Thread

Nice!

Now that your Key fobs don't stop working you'll be pimpin.

Next write-up going to be paintless dent repair???? LOL!!!

Nice guide man!

Nice!

Now that your Key fobs don't stop working you'll be pimpin.

Next write-up going to be paintless dent repair???? LOL!!!

sigh. i've only owned this car for a month and change
and thanks to the economy it'll be that way for a while unfort