Replace Outer Door Handel On A GMC / Chevrolet

This Door Handle Is Very Similar In Many GMC & Chevrolet Models.

Replacing this door hades is very similar in GMC and Chevrolet. These door handles are very similar on many vehicles from 1995 – 2019. 

Time 

I have changed a few of these and I can change these in about 30 minutes. Allow yourself a bit more time because there is a bracket behind the door handle that doesn’t require force to get into place. But, it can be a bit tricky to angle the bracket so that it just slides on. You don’t have to be a pro to replace this handle. 

This guide may feel long but I just tried to cover question if you have any. 

Tools Needed

• Sockets
  • 10mm
  • 8mm some vehicles will use this size, this particular vehicle didn’t need it.
• Ratchet
• Ratchet Extension
• Flat Blade Screwdriver
• Hex Head Screwdriver
• Picks
  • Straight
  • 90 degree
  • Hook
• Helpful tools
  • Long Reach Needle Nose Pliers
  • Magnet Pickup Tool

Step #1

Remove The Window handle

This can be a bit tricky. But, just you can see in the pictures that you just have to locate the metal clip behind. Using the a 90 degree or hook pick you simple pull the metal clip out. 

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Step #2

Remove The Door Panel Parts

This is the majority of the job so step one will technically be broken down in multiple steps.

#1

Remove the Top Left Plastic Moulding

This molding is a bit cut out of this picture. But when looking at the door you will know exactly what I am talking about. I will also place a link here. To be honest I haven’t broken any of these, but I have seen these broken a few times. This moulding uses a plastic metal clip to hold them into place. 

Simple pull out from the top to snap out of place. 

Link to Picture and Replacement.

Left Hand

Right Hand

Remove the 2 10mm bolts in the arm rest

Remove the hex screws

• One at the bottom outer corner
• One at the top on the panel under the plastic moulding
• Two at the door handle
  • One screw is under a small plastic cover

#2

Remove the two plastic retainers

These do tend to break very often but are reusable. They are inexpensive and available at most auto parts stores if they break. Here is a link to these retainers. (please note sizes may be different but you can use this picture as reference)

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Step #3

Removing the Door Panel

Once we remove all the bolts and plastic fasteners (usually only two). The panel should come off easily. To remove simply pull the entire panel up then towards you. The picture shows you the rear of the panel so that you can see where all the places it can catch. If you feel it getting caught somewhere, just refer to the picture. It shouldn’t require much force.

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Step #4

Here we are going to remove 2 10mm nuts and 1 10mm bolt. 

First

There are 2 plastic covers that you have to pop off to access the nuts below (red arrows).

To remove these two covers just the flat blade screwdriver to lift an edge and pull them off.

Second 

There is a single bolt that is holding the bottom of the window track. Removing this bolt will give you so much more space when removing the handle(blue arrow)

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Step #5

Let’s remove the door handle back plate.

Let’s remove a small plastic clip that connects the door handle to the door latching mechanism. This part breaks very often and is very inexpensive online. Online these clips are about $ 5.00 and the dealer will sell these about $ 25

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Truthfully a bit of patients can help. I have replaced a few of these and I always find removing and putting this plate back in place a bit annoying. You Do NOT need any force, the plate comes out and goes back in at just the perfect angle (just move it around). I find going up helps (only when you are see this plate you will know exactly what I’m talking about). After removing the two 10mm nuts that were behind the plastic covers. You will now be able to remove a metal plate that holds the plastic door handle to the door.  

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Step #6

Now that we remove the back plate that holds the door handle in place. We can now remove it from the door lock cylinder and completely from the door.

Once you remove the metal plate behind the door handle. The door handle will be loose. From the outside we will have to now just remove a small rod attached to the door lock. There is a small pin that holds the lock cylinder in place. A simple press with the Pick will allow you to remove it. 

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Step #7

Putting Everything back together.

We basically go in reverse for all the steps. But, I will go over a few things that you may have questions about. 

#1

When Placing the new door handle in. Make sure the door lock cylinder back in completely. It will only fit oneway. As a quick tip, once the lock cylinder is in place. Hold the door handle in place and make sure that the key works to lock and unlock the door. It is possible for the lock cylinder and rod connected to it to be in wrong.

#2

This is the annoying part. The metal plate that holds the door handle in place from the inside only fits one way and requires very little to no force to go in. It just will slide into place. This picture below Shows exactly how it should be inside the door.

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#3

We will now connect the rod that is connected to the door handle to the yellow clip. All you do is close the clip over the end of the rod. No force is needed, it just snaps into place. Side note: the rod should be loose (just hanging) and easily maneuverable into the clip.

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#4

Just replace the two nuts that were beneath the plastic covers (red arrows). These just go snug. Do NOT over tighten, the bolts are attached to plastic and can break.

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#5

Replace the window track bolts. Again just snug.

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#6

Before going any further make sure everything works. Door locks and handle.

Now we just replace the door panel. The door panel goes into place then slides down into the correct position.

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#7

Replace the window handle. 

You simple place the metal clip in place and just press the window handle into place and the window handle will lock into place. On this vehicle a plastic washer was missing. But, there should be a thin plastic washer between the window handle and door panel. After this just place the top plastic moulding in place.

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