1988 interior door handle not working after reinforcement

[Tahoe_F250]

Well the sheet metal in my drivers door gave out where the bolt retainer clip is. I bought and installed the Bronco Graveyard Inside Door Handle Reinforcement Plate.

I aligned it identically to the cutouts in the door panel and riveted in place.

Installed the rod and bolted the actuator mechanism in place. It is solid.

However, it is not opening the door unless I push the Rod just slightly. What would you do? Replace just interior door opening mechanism? Replace that and rod? Or?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience/expertise.

 

[L\Bronco]

Hey Tahoe, welcome to the zone!
Not sure what year your Bronco is, but, most of the time one end of the actuator rod is threaded and snaps into a clip to hold it to the latch arm. This is adjustable, if you have that style, simply pry open the plastic flap on the clip and pop the rod out, then reinstall making the assembly slightly longer or shorter, (depending if its a pull or push style) Should solve the problem. If this description doesn’t match yours, post the year and Ill try again.
Cheers!

 

[Tahoe_F250]

Hey Tahoe, welcome to the zone!
Not sure what year your Bronco is, but, most of the time one end of the actuator rod is threaded and snaps into a clip to hold it to the latch arm. This is adjustable, if you have that style, simply pry open the plastic flap on the clip and pop the rod out, then reinstall making the assembly slightly longer or shorter, (depending if its a pull or push style) Should solve the problem. If this description doesn’t match yours, post the year and Ill try again.
Cheers!

L\Bronco, Thanks, It is an '88. I will look tomorrow and try and adjust the rod length via the clip.

 

[Tahoe_F250]

Unfortunately, the rod in my 1988 is not threaded. Both ends are bent with the plastic yellow bushings securing the rod. Any other experience you can share?

 

[L\Bronco]

Sorry Tahoe, can you post a pict of the handle and bracket end?

 

[Tiha]

I would see if there is room to move the handle forward.

We used to bend the linkage between the handle and latch. It didn't last forever but worked great for a while.

It sounds like something is bent just a little.

 

[Tahoe_F250]

Here is the handle end:

 

[L\Bronco]

Thanks, loosen the bolts and move the handle back towards the latch as far as the bolt holes will allow, and make sure none of the bends in the rod are exaggerated. (Could be tolerance stack up stopping the travel a tiny bit early)
You can gain some lenght by straightening a factory bend in the rod a bit.
Hope that helps!
Cheers

 

[Tahoe_F250]

I got it working! The issue turned out to be the lever mechanism in the door.

Not the greatest pic, but the rivet is on the shift lever that attaches to the rod (other end to the rod) oblonged the metal that actuates the open function. I bought a new interior door lever and plastic gromet from Bronco Graveyard and can now exit my truck from the inside! No more winding down the window to get out!

 

[Tiha]

They do wear out don't they.

kind of sneaks up on ya.

 

[L\Bronco]

Way to go!
Great win!
Cheers!

 

[Jimbo26]

Understandable, Broncs dont offer quite as easy access as you-know-who...........