Door Handles keep breaking

What is up with these door handles? I have a 2004 double cab, and have replaced each exterior door handle at least once. Now the drivers door handle has broken again. I've been buying the cheapo Amazon handles. Will the toyota handles last longer, or is the problem actually in the door mechanism itself?

 

Do they feel sticky when you open them? How does your key feel when you manually unlock? Could be dirty inside. You're right about the quality of door handles. Oem will cost more but they are also more resilient

 

They don't feel sticky so much as it feels like they aren't doing anything. You can lift em up, but they don't engage the mechanism until the last 10% of travel. And then you really have to pull up to get them to open the door. I was just wondering if there was a common problem with the internals, or if it's in the handle itself. May just have to investigate this weekend.

 

I had the same problem until I bought the Toyota originals. Went through several. Next time you replace, lubricant all interior contact points before you close things up. You'll be fine afterward.

 

Buy the genuine handles, my friends sister always breaks the aftermarket ones

 

Anyone know a place where you can get OEM handles where they're not $80 each?

 

Cheapest I could find was around that 80 buck price as well.

$25 Multiple Manufacturers OE Replacement Toyota Tacoma Front Driver Side Door Handle Outer (Partslink Number TO1310117)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004...s_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3MNCT52TEJAZVAGH7JDE
I think I'd try this one for 10 bucks before plopping down 80. Has decent reviews and I'd make sure to apply white lithium grease to all moving parts and contact points within the door upon install. You know, the rods and levers and that stuff.

 

Yeah like already mentioned the cheap ones are just that.....and if you havent definitely lube that stuff in the door! I was recently having a bit of trouble opening the doors on one of my trucks, felt like i was gunna break something eventually and it wouldn't pop open till about the last 10% like you said. I finally squirted some penetrating lube behind the handle anywhere i could and let some run down the side of the interior lock tab. After a day of the oil leaching around on that stuff everything was so so much smoother and easier and the doors pop open quite nicley now, atleast for a while. Would be better to use a real lube after the penetrating oil does its thing but its been several months and they are still much better than before....

 

I have had this same issue! replaced my drive side 4 times... finally bought a 30 dollars one off of ROCKAUTO, greased up all the moving parts and BAM, works like a charm.

 

rockauto has them too.

 

I will be swapping out my chrome OEM ones soon and posting in the FS section

 

None of mine are broken
All 4 oem and good

But at times it seems a little sticky

Any solution?

 

What i mentioned in post #8 has really helped mine as far as lubing them up. Just make sure you hit em with many different angles if ya go that route so you can be sure to hit the pertinent linkage. Also try and use an aerosol that foams up a bit when used.(the liquid wrench brand penetrating oil i used foams up well and really aids in the oil to leach onto everything in there)That is if you dont remove the handles to do it. When you lift the handles you will notice some spots under there that you can get the lil applicator straw slipped into thats on your chosen aresol lube.

 

LUBE LUBE LUBE LUBE! youll probably want to use a graphite spray too.

 

Where
Where
Where

 

mainly the latch and lock mechanism. but anywhere where there is metal to metal surface contact. hinges, slides, etc. metal to plastic usually isn't an issue unless the plastic is melted to the metal. youll want to use at last a white lithium grease. sil glyde is probably the best product to use all around.

 

you can also use sil-glyde on the backing plate of brake pads to help prevent noise and on caliper guide pins. you know the gas cover lock and latch? lube that up too!

 

There is no lock on my gas cover or door

 

Yep common with el cheapos. Same issue here. Replaced mine a few times. My driver side is gettin ready to go. I can feel it. Ha. But I just can't being myself to pay that much for an oem. Ugh. Even lubed it all.

 

...am I the only one who's never broken a door handle? My taco is going on almost 20 years now and the handles have never given me any problems.