I am trying to do the same thing. How did you all manage the final bit of the door panel. I have all the outer panels pins off and the 2 screws just aft of the actual door latch mechanism. Only the panel seems to be further attached in and around the latch mechanism. Screws??

 

You're almost there. The armrest is held on with screws. You also have to pop off the trim ring that surrounds the handle itself. Use a screwdriver to pry it up - carefully. And if I recall correctly, once you remove the trim ring, slide the door panel either forward or backward to disengage it from the handle/lock trim plate. You might want to disconnect the window/mirror controls if there isn't enough room to work behind the door panel.

BTW, nice job pulling up old postings!

 

OK...now what...got the panel off. see attached pics. Now the actual latch mechanism ...it appears to be riveted on.

Are my choices to drill it out or ???

 

Yep drill it out and then use self tap screws to reattach or reriviot it

 

Damn, I was afraid that would be the route.

 

Man, I didn't have to drill/rivet anything on mine. It's been awhile but I KNOW I didn't have to do that. Seems like mine just popped in and out. It does look like yours is riveted. Mine's a '98 - either they changed it for your year or else the last guy changed mine already and didn't do the rivet thing. Once you get the rivet off the trimplate slides forward (or backward...) a half-inch or so and comes off the door.

 

yeah the riviot indicates that it has never been off

 

Ah, so mine was replaced at LEAST once before... ncseahawk, if it's any consolation, it works just fine without re-riveting/re-screwing. Hope you got it back together!

 

Tom, Thanks, I got the part in today from AM motors. Took about 15 minutes to drill out the rivet, remove the assembly, slide the new one in, and I used my aluminum rivet gun. Seemed to work just fine. I just hope that there is not a high level of shear stress. If so...no big deal now that I know how to do it, putting in a metal screw shouldn;t take but a few minutes.

Thanks for all the advice. I am very happy with the end result. "Just like new"...more or less.

Rob

 

Nice work, Rob, glad all is well.