EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ?

Hi folks . Are there any good quality exterior door handles other than oem? Passenger side broke today. The dealer ones are too expensive for me. I want a handle that will last awhile. there must be one of those aftermarket handles that compare to oem without the high price. Thanks for any advice

 

I think this is one of those parts thats best to go with oem.

 

If you buy an oem one it will probably just break again. What you need to do is give the latch mechanism a good cleaning. It's best if you remove it and clean it real good. It's not really that hard to get out. You just have to disconnect the bottom of the window track on that side to give you room, and it will come out. Get the years of gunk off it and you will be able to open the door with your little finger. At that point even the cheep ones will hold up. If you don't clean it, you will break even the expensive oem ones. I went through several handles before I cleaned the latch.

 

Man they all suck. I replaced both of mine with Dorman units and they have the "sometimes dont open and re lock the door" issue

 

I personally gave up fixing mine, and when they break I just put my fingers underneath the back of the door handle frame when its partially lifted - and pull from there since even if the actual handle is broken theres usually enough structure lifting from back there to open the door.

 

I have a whole box of OEM door handles. Chrome?

 

Don't buy eBay ones or doorman .Oem and clean the door dohikies

 

I’d be interested in some clean chrome ones

 

eBay is fine. As long as your buying from the one guy who is selling genuine oem handles on there. I’ve bought both on eBay. The junk ones and the oem ones and there is a rather large difference in weight and build quality, I can find the link for OP if he wants

 

DM me after August 1st and I’ll get you some pictures

 

Sounds good Bart, should look good on my 5 lug

 

What the hell are you guys doing to your door handles?! Mine still work perfectly.

I don't think there's a big aftermarket following for door handles in Tacomas... I mean, there are probably some cheap-o aftermarket ones, but not like you'll find a sweet "upgrade" aftermarket one.

Just go to a junk yard. If it's not color matched, just sand it down and paint them black.

 

Junk yard? You can't find one around here in a junk yard . All the older Toyota pick ups and now Tacomas have been getting bought and convoyed to South America. They are always over loaded with parts in the bed and flat towing another with equally over loaded bed going 50 mph on a 75mph highway . Not a fan of this practice especially when some of the taill lights don't work. DPS won't pull them over because they won't pay the fine and go back to Mexico and don't return .

 

I put epoxy on my new replacement door latch to strengthen the weak point before installation.

 

They break easy in cold weather, especially if the latch mechanism is gummed up. I see you live in Sacramento. It's no wonder you've never broke one, it never gets cold there.

 

I decided to go for the new oem replacement handle. I got one for $89 with free shipping on e-bay. I'll make sure I clean everything up and lube the moving parts before I put it back together. Maybe if I'm ambitious I'll clean and lube the drivers side as preventive maintenance. Thanks for all the input on this subject.

 

No it does not.

That's (one reason) why I live here, lol...

 

And one of many reasons I don't.

 

Talk to me in January when you're shovelin' 4 feet of snow, and I'm in shorts, haha.

 

I can't wait for the snow. I grew up in Phoenix, had enough heat for one lifetime. You can always put more clothes on but you can only take so many off before it gets awkward.