The Lotus Grand Tourers

Just replaced my exterior door handle with a new one from SJS.

During the process I noticed that the old handle had a pin running top to bottom through the metal backplate and holes drilled in the plastic ridges on the back of the handle, presumably as an additional fixing. It looks like a factory fitted option as there were a couple of reinforcing grommets push-fitted into the plastic.

The new one only has the two captive nuts into which the setscrews are driven through the metal backplate.

What's the collective wisdom - should I take the new handle out and drill it to take the pin, or rely on improvements in manufacturing in the years and just leave it held in by the two setscrews ?

Those door handles are very weak, I've had two passenger handles pulled off, and I don't carry passengers that often! I would do all the reinforcing possible.....


Mike

Interesting - my door handle fixing looks nothing like the one in the parts manual.

Where the PM shows two brackets to hold the handle to the door, I seem to have a complete metal surround with holes for 2 set screws in it (matching the bracket locations) + the pin through it from top to bottom. Wonder if this is a late mod. that never showed up in the PM ? The design looks like it would spread pressure more evenly across the GRP avoiding "hot spots" at the bracket mount points and likely to reduce GRP flex when the handle is pulled.

it is a mod on the later cars seen this on 90/91 cars does seem to stop cracking round the door handle.tried to get some extra brackets for my brother car but unable to find a part number dave

Does anyone know the best place to get replacement external door handles from ?
Cheers Richard

A common Toyota fitting from the '80s, I think, Celica et al. Your local wrecker should have some, but don't tell him what they're for!

Robert

HI Angus

Mine has this surround and as you say does seem to spread the load around the edge of the hole for the handle. Have found that the design of the fixing for the captive nut to be very weak point as its a round nut (no idea what it should be called) and that any lateral movement of the handle can seriously weaken the plastic at the lock barrell end and let the nut begin to slip giving the nice flappy door handle effect. did find that putting a zip tie around the plastic area and glueing into place to support it has helped a fair bit (bodge of the week so far!)

Andy

My old '86 Se had two small brackets one either end. My current '89 SE has a much better one piece bracket, I used double sided number plate tape on the bracket to body,to make sure it stayed, and I used silicon sealer/adhesive on the outside handle to provide a little more adherence.

Terry

Hi Dave, welcome to the fold. Some one will provide info. soon. I too have just bought a Excel and this forum is Excel lent for swaping these issues.

Gary

It's a Toyota part - but I'd recommend playing safe and getting a brand new one from SJ Sports Cars.

http://www.sjsportscars.co.uk/partsanda ... mit=search

Why is the RH more expensive than the LH ? ? ?