'97 C1500 Interior Door Handle Stopped Working

[df2x4]

The passenger side interior door handle on my 2000 C3500 was broken when I bought the truck used. I replaced it with an aftermarket handle that I got on eBay, and even though that door doesn't get much use, it broke again a few years later, so I got another aftermarket handle. Shortly thereafter the driver side handle snapped off, this time I got a chrome aftermarket handle, which actually seems way sturdier than the grey ones. Now the exterior handle on the passenger side door is cracked, but still works. I've got an OEM handle brand new in an unopened box waiting for me to get around to installing it. Before I do, I'm thinking about getting a chrome passenger side interior handle to match the driver side one, since I'll have to pull the door panel off anyway. As for where these door handles fail, in my case the crack always seems to be far enough inside the door panel that you can't see it. Before the driver side handle snapped, I could feel it flexing, so I wasn't surprised when it eventually gave up. I'd already bought the chrome handle, so, as my wife said, it was time for me to finally get off of my butt and install the damned thing...

Thanks for the response. It seems like the overwhelming majority of people with this issue have had the handles crack out of view inside the door panel. I'm glad I went ahead and ordered a new OEM handle.

 

[98chevy2500SS]

My 98 did the same thing. When I bought it back in '14, I always had to pull the inside handle pretty far back for the door to even open, and then a year or two later it finally gave up the ghost. Replaced it and was good as new!

 

[df2x4]

Thanks, looks like that's another vote for a cracked handle. At this point I'll be surprised if it's anything else!

 

[alpinecrick]

I've had three out of four interior handles stop working on my 96 and 97 trucks. The hole the rod clips into can become wallowed out, and the shaft the handle rotates on can also wallow out, and as mentioned the handle can crack just out of sight. Just that tiny amount of play can keep the latch from working.

The Dorman interior handles have fit perfectly, one aftermarket handle doesn't fit as well, with a larger gap between the bezel and door panel.

 

[df2x4]

Thanks alpine. I'm gathering from the responses in here that (as I suspected) there's pretty mixed reports on the aftermarket handles. Glad I ordered a legit GM part.

 

[upper_tanker]

My dad has been buying these for his fleet of gmt400 trucks that he uses for lawn/landscaping/snow. With the old pot metal, non-chrome ones, I'd be replacing one every month or two. We haven't had one of these chrome ones break yet, and they've been on a few trucks for 6+ months now. You either love or hate the chrome handle, but they seem like a way better option if longevity is what you're after. These seem to be the preferred "fix" for the frequent breaking of the handles on most of the Facebook pages, as well.

https://www.1aauto.com/search?q=interior+door+handle+chrome&year=1997&model=44

 

[df2x4]

My dad has been buying these for his fleet of gmt400 trucks that he uses for lawn/landscaping/snow. With the old pot metal, non-chrome ones, I'd be replacing one every month or two. We haven't had one of these chrome ones break yet, and they've been on a few trucks for 6+ months now. You either love or hate the chrome handle, but they seem like a way better option if longevity is what you're after. These seem to be the preferred "fix" for the frequent breaking of the handles on most of the Facebook pages, as well.

https://www.1aauto.com/search?q=interior+door+handle+chrome&year=1997&model=44

So that's multiple people who have confirmed that the chrome handles are stronger than most of the aftermarket stuff, good to know. I'm not a fan of the look but that's a cheaper solution than OEM for those who don't mind it.

I have to wonder how much of the frequent handle issues you see people reporting are due to the use of cheap aftermarket parts. Like I said earlier, both of my '97s are still running factory interior handles up until this point. Or maybe lack of attention to the hinge pins and bushings like Richard mentioned earlier.

 

[upper_tanker]

So that's multiple people who have confirmed that the chrome handles are stronger than most of the aftermarket stuff, good to know. I'm not a fan of the look but that's a cheaper solution than OEM for those who don't mind it.

I have to wonder how much of the frequent handle issues you see people reporting are due to the use of cheap aftermarket parts. Like I said earlier, both of my '97s are still running factory interior handles up until this point. Or maybe lack of attention to the hinge pins and bushings like Richard mentioned earlier.

I agree, I'm also not a fan of the chrome handle look. We've been using them on work trucks, so he couldn't care less how they look. The important thing for him is that he's not wasting money (and I'm not wasting time) replacing them constantly.

We always keep up on the door pins/bushings, and usually get them from the dealer. It seems like the Dorman pins/bushings don't last long at all. These are trucks that mow 25-40 lawns per day, so there are days when the doors open and close 80-100 times each. For snow plowing, they may get opened/closed 150-200 times per snow event. This being said, I believe that a lot of the issues with his vehicles are the people operating the doors. We both know that people sometimes (or in this case, most of the time) tend to be a more careless with things that don't belong to them, versus if they owned it.

I do a door check on each vehicle about once a week, and always replace them once they start showing the slightest wear. I've probably replaced 50 bushings by now, they're easy enough. LOL

 

[94_Z71]

If you're gonna replace it, replace it with the '88 to '94 handles. They're identical to the '95 to '98 ones, except they're made out of actual metal. They don't break as easily.

 

[df2x4]

If you're gonna replace it, replace it with the '88 to '94 handles. They're identical to the '95 to '98 ones, except they're made out of actual metal. They don't break as easily.

Is that even possible? The frame and how it sits in the panel looks completely different. It seems like you'd have to change door panels as well for it to look right at all.

EDIT - Also according to GM Parts Direct the '88-'94 driver's side interior door handles are discontinued.