Article on: Chrome Door Handle Install

Thought you guys might get a kick out of this - after trying to get hold of some of the door handles from the STi for the interior, to get rid of the nasty plastic ones - I gave up. After checking out a 2001 Legacy however, I noticed the door handles are exactly the same in shape - not colour, but the actual handle was perfect.

So - I did a quick search for auto-wreckers, and found an 01 Legacy that was available - and got all 4 interior door handles from the car. Cost me $60 shipped - dunno if that was a good deal, but I am sure it's cheaper than trying to get the original STi ones

Now the ones I got were grey, so I had to use the handle bodies and lock toggles from my car

Here's how to do it:

You'll need:
4x Legacy interior door handles
1x 6 - 9mm scrap metal rod
1x small hammer
1x pair of pliers
1x flat bladed and 1x philips head screwdriver
About 1 1/2 hours if you are swapping the handle bodies, about 30 minutes if you manage to get hold of black handles

This is for the front drivers side door, everything else is similar:

1- Remove screw from handle
2- Remove screw from door grab
3- Remove the window/door lock controls, unplugging them from the wire harness
4- Remove the screw from under the window/door lock controls - it is directly under where the door grab was
5- Gently pry around the edges of the door, I found starting by the lock mechanism the most successful. Pull gently around the whole door till it's loose.
6- The handle itself will now work itself free, so remove the facia from around the handle - this is important as it is quite easy to break if you try and pull the door insert off
7- Remove the blanking plate by the side view mirror - then pull gently upwards - the door insert will slide off the pink tabs holding it down.

Relax for a minute and marvel at the complete lack of sound insulation in the doors - time for some dynamat I think

8- Remove the two rods which are inserted into the handle in the lock switch and door release handle and remove the whole handle assembly
9- With the metal rod on the Legacy donor handle, gently tap the pin which holds the lock and handle in place through - take your time doing this, the plastic is pretty fragile (I managed to put a hairline crack in one of my handles doing this)
10- Remove the chromed handle, taking care with the spring as it can pop out and shoot in your face if you're not careful. Take note of how the spring was arranged in the handle in the first place, as you will be doing the same thing when you re-assemble
11- Repeat that process for the original door handle.
12- Insert the chrome handle into the handle body, and flip the body round - and insert the spring from the back. I found this easier to do, than trying to bend the spring to fit in
13- Re-insert the locking pin - tapping it down till it is flush on both sides - be careful again, as the plastic is fragile. Make sure it's flush by using the metal rod to tap it down.
14- Reinstall the handle and reconnect the rods.
15- Slide the handle body into the slot in the door (you'll see a little hook on the back of the handle) - and replace the screw that you removed. Test the lock and handle mechanism operate freely.
16- Replug the window/door control plug and re-install the door insert. With the front window, winding the window down will give you easier clearance to get the insert to seat on the pink tabs.
17- Tap gently around the insert to seat the clips - replace the screw in the door grab
18- Snap the surround back around the handle, making sure it beds down

You're done!

Images:







Sorry about the quality!

 
(The ISDC cannot be held responsible for any modifications that adversely effect the warranty of your car.)