93+ exterior door handles...

[JoshT]

My '99 has an exterior door handle that feels like it isn't far from breaking. After the pop that I felt the other day it might be partially broken already, but it still opens for now. I probably won't replace it until it fully breaks, but I'd rather have one on hand for when it eventually does than have to order and wait for it to come in.

Looking on RockAuto they list a handle for 1993-2000 and another for 2001-2011. From outside the truck they look the same to me. What's the difference?

If Ford changed the door handle after 7 years and left it looking the same visually, I would assume that it was some sort of upgrade or fix for a problem. Will the handles interchange? If it was an upgrade can I install the 2001+ handle on my 99 Ranger?

If someone with a 2001+ needed a handle and found a '93-'00 handle in a junkyard, would it fit?

I can't really see the difference looking at pictures online, but pictures online can be deceptive and I don't entirely trust my eyes to pick out small details like they used to.

 

[19Walt93]

I don't know what the difference is but I'd order the one listed for your truck. Forget junkyarding, you have a used one now. I believe the handles are rivetted on like all the fox body stuff, when you rivet the new one on, have someone else hold onto the front of the rivet gun because it will jump when the rivet pops and you'll likely gouge the paint below the handle when it does. I learned that the hard way.

 

[JoshT]

I'm not junkyarding. My dad has a broke handle on his 2002, passenger side IIRC, he grabbed the handle off a 1999 or 2000 parts truck that we have. If the door handles are different I want to let him know before he takes it apart and the replacement handle won't work.

In addition to that I'm wondering if the newer handles are a better/stronger design that is less likely to break or have issues in the future.

My truck, the '99, has the driver front breaking, and the passenger side rear broken. I could pull both from the parts truck, but I will be buying new for the very reason you suggest. Yes both handles are mounted with pull rivets. You can mount them using regular hardware, but I'm not sure about it from a security aspect. I don't think removing the handle would make it any easier to break in, and if that there going to be the case it would be almost as easy for a thief to drill the pop rivets as it would be to remove nuts and bolts.

Bolts would be easier, but rivets wouldn't be a problem. Being an aircraft mechanic for the last 18 years, I'm pretty familiar with operating a rivet puller. For the rear I'll probably be using button head security crews to mount the new ones, but for the front I haven't decided yet.

 

[Ranger850]

Older handles were mostly metal. The newer ones seem to be all ABS plastic. That might be the difference in years.

thought I saw a 3rd gen Ranger with the 1st/2nd/ gen style handles but I could be wrong. I remember thinking the Chrome rectangular handles looked out of place, compared to the black plastic ones that should have been there. I'm not sure what all it took to get them to function. It was a work truck, not a show truck, so I would think it was very little innovation to get them to work.

 

[97RangerXLT]

My driver side handle is the same way. When it popped i ordered 2 new handles from Rock auto for 2 bucks a piece. This was 8 or 9 years ago. That hndle is still holding on... granted i drive maybe 2k miles a year...

My biggest worry now is locating that handle in my garage when it finally does break.

Differences... newer rangers have a slightly different look to the handles. They flare out to meet the door and it looks more aerodynamic. I also believe it was an option to have them painted to match the body color. I would think that the 93-2000 would work but the new one wont look the same as the other doors.

AJ

 

[rumblecloud]

My driver's side is suspect as well. Seems like thee are two return springs and one gave up the ghost -- at least that's what I think. Really haven't researched it, but I'll probably be looking to replace it come summer. I'll probably use hardware as opposed to rivets.

 

[JoshT]

Older handles were mostly metal. The newer ones seem to be all ABS plastic. That might be the difference in years.

thought I saw a 3rd gen Ranger with the 1st/2nd/ gen style handles but I could be wrong. I remember thinking the Chrome rectangular handles looked out of place, compared to the black plastic ones that should have been there. I'm not sure what all it took to get them to function. It was a work truck, not a show truck, so I would think it was very little innovation to get them to work.

I haven;t been around many '93-'97 models so I don't know what they had, just that the RockAuto listing says '93-'00. I know all the '83-'92 models had the same chrome metal door handle and I think that is the one you are referring to. I definitely want to stay with the style that came on these newer trucks.

My driver side handle is the same way. When it popped i ordered 2 new handles from Rock auto for 2 bucks a piece. This was 8 or 9 years ago. That hndle is still holding on... granted i drive maybe 2k miles a year...

My biggest worry now is locating that handle in my garage when it finally does break.

Differences... newer rangers have a slightly different look to the handles. They flare out to meet the door and it looks more aerodynamic. I also believe it was an option to have them painted to match the body color. I would think that the 93-2000 would work but the new one wont look the same as the other doors.

AJ

That's good to hear, maybe I'll wait a bit before I get a replacement.

I didn't notice the differences in shapes until now. Of course I saw the change in the '83-'92 handles and later handles, but apparently they've had atleast two more shapes since then. As much as I touch it I've never paid that much attention to the shape of my door handles, I'll have to take another look at them tomorrow or when the rain clears out.

The year ranges in my OP were based on RockAuto. Since then I've looked on other sites (IE: Amazon and eBay) and seen the same handles listed for '93-'11. Maybe all of them post 1993 are interchangable. I've been bitten by part interchanges on other websites. That said, there are also times that I know something will interchange, but RA says that it won't. I know they base their lsiting on manufacturer part fitment information, just saying its not 100% either. I've also seen "metal" replacements that have a very broad year range on there.

I might just have to dig into my truck and see what the inside portion of the handle actually looks, then match it up that way. I need to replace one of the front door speakers anyway. I plan to have the truck painted in the not too distant future. I'm kind of leaning towards ditching the chrome bumpers and grill in favor of body matched, if I can hold out long enough I might just have to go metal and painted to match.

 

[19Walt93]

My driver's side is suspect as well. Seems like thee are two return springs and one gave up the ghost -- at least that's what I think. Really haven't researched it, but I'll probably be looking to replace it come summer. I'll probably use hardware as opposed to rivets.

Pull the door panel and spray some lube on the door latch, it may be binding and causing the handle to not return.