Door handle push button - OEM vs. replacement

[Fireball05]

Guys,

I've been trying my hardest to get my door handles and push buttons to work as nicely as possible. The passenger side is awesome. The driver side isn't quite so good. Does anyone have a photo showing the internals of the OEM assembly? I'm thinking maybe mine are aftermarket, and after reading a bit it sounds like the aftermarket are notorious for problems.

Here is a photo of the aftermarket ones.

My driver side door button is slightly more concave than the passenger side. Maybe one is OEM and one is aftermarket? Who knows...

What is the difference b/w OEM and aftermarket? Is it the actual push button itself (that you put your thumb on) or the internals that move the lever which lifts the rod up and unlatches the door?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[JIMS74]

the OEM push button and the push rod are one peice and the after market are two peices which allows the after market push rod to deflect off centerline and cause drag when hits the lever plate. I cleaned and inspected the OEM iternals and placed them in the after market handles.

 

[Fireball05]

Jim - thanks for the quick response. You don't happen to have a good photo of the OEM unit so I can determine if I've got OEM or aftermarket, do you?
From your description, it sounds like both of mine are aftermarket.

 

[JIMS74]

Here are a few. the one with the black bushing is the aftermarket. On the OEM the push rod and button are one peice.

 

[Fireball05]

Jim - thanks for the pictures. Not sure which was worse, the day I found out the Easter bunny wasn't real or today when I discovered had aftermarket door handles!

 

[Sheldiesel]

I have aftermarket on my f100 and I have the same problem you are having.

 

[RIbronco]

If the binding problem is due to the aftermarket version being two pieces, has anyone tried epoxying the parts together?

 

[broncoitis]

Yeah, the old ones are better! Supposedly Tom's Bronco Parts has some really nice aftermarket versions that are close to the originals.

If I had kept my originals, i woulda had them rechromed and a bit of lube and they woulda been good for another 40 years. I won't make that mistake again! ;D

 

[myclsic69]

X2 on the After market Door handles!

 

[Burkulater]

the OEM push button and the push rod are one peice and the after market are two peices which allows the after market push rod to deflect off centerline and cause drag when hits the lever plate. I cleaned and inspected the OEM iternals and placed them in the after market handles.

What he said, that's my plan too when I get to it

 

[snipi]

take off the door panel and operate the door buttom while looking at the lock mechanisms inside. simulate the door being shut by pushing on the two forks that hit the striker inside the door jam. once you have done this you will see the rod that needs to be adjusted. if the button is not unlocking the two forks adjusting this rod will help. there is a small clip that wraps around the rod where it meets the mechanisms. this clip will pop back towards the door skin, after that pull the rod out of the whole, adjust the pin on the rod up farther on the rod threads, reinstall the rod back into the whole on the mech, and try the door button again after pushing the two forks into the closed position. Did this to mine yesterday and it practically throws the door at me when i press the button.

 

[Justafordguy]

The aftermarket ones are aweful. I use the insides from my originals with the aftermarket exterior handle and they work better now.

 

[Fireball05]

Snipi - thanks for the info. I have already done that, in addition to completely removing and cleaning the latch and lock assemblies. For some reason, I have an OEM passenger handle and an aftermarket driver handle!

The problem is that as others have mentioned above, the OEM works great, one push and very solid engagement. The driver side deflects a bit before the mechanism engages. I've adjusted the rod up and down and found the sweet spot where it works best, but the driver side still requires a firmer push on the button to get it opened.

Anyone have an extra OEM button laying around for some reason? We'd be fast friends if you do

 

[snipi]

Thats just funny having an oem and an aftermarket maybe the po just wanted to see what he liked best. lol