‘07 Interior door handle

[TheIndian]

Have a 2007 KJ that needs interior door handles…3/4. Once I removed the door panel, I see the design is pretty poor. Circular plastic bracket is plastic-molded/melted in place to keep handle secure from inside (?). I see that on other types of handles, Dorman replacement parts come with a special drill bit for creating a new hole for screws to be used upon replacement. The kit for this year of course doesn’t come with said bit. Figures. Anyone know how to obtain this drill bit or have suggestions for alternative idea?
Thanks a lot for your help…

 

[KJowner]

Can't imagine the drill bit is anything particularly special? Do you have a picture?

 

[TheIndian]

Perhaps you’re correct. Take a look…
And here’s a link to the kit…

https://www.1aauto.com/2002-07-jeep-liberty-front-driver-side-interior-door-handle-trq-dha49714/i/1adhi01028/731214/2004?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlfuimKaXhwMV2GhHAR1yBwWqEA0YASABEgIfevD_BwE

 

[TheIndian]

I guess I should’ve ordered THAT kit. Just discovered it this morning while searching again smh. What I ordered was from eBay…two door handles for almost same price.

 

[KJowner]

Looks like its used to remove the heads of the plastic melted rivets, a spot weld drill is the closest thing i have to the bit in the picture. I'd use a small bit to put a small center hole in each one and then a big bit to remove the head and release it, dont go any deeper than you have to because you need the base material to hold the new screws. . It's probably worth putting a small pilot hole in for the new screws so it doesn't crack the plastic, be careful not to go too deep and punch through the panel.
The video attached to the advert usefully doesn't actually show this part being fitted!

 

[TheIndian]

I wound up doing pretty much exactly all that…including punching through on one hole Lol…just one.

First I drilled some pilot holes and discovered that there’s actually a cavity under all that melted plastic. Each cavity accepts the screws that came with the door handle kit. After drilling the pilot holes, I shaved off the melted plastic with a cutting wheel in my dremel being sure to stay as level as possible.

Before screwing in new part, I filled those cavities with crazy glue for some extra security.

Door panel back in and seems to be working great. 1 down…2 more to go.

Chris

 

[69gscalifornia]

I also used my Dremel to carefully grind off the melted plastic, worked great.