peppertree

97 LS400 now with 160K, driver's ouside door handle is splitting past the 50% point. Can I swap it out for the driver's side rear handle? Where buy new handle cheap?
Why the HELL does this have to happen?
thanks for any thoughts

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

it just does.

buy a new one from teh dealer, they arent that expensive and iirc for 95+ cars come prepainted.

jdmacken

No B.S., I replaced mine two days ago. Not too tough to do. About a hour job. My door handle was about $175.00 shipped and already painted.
1990 LS400 ordered from Irontoad.com Good Luck

j stuff

iTrader: (5)

lol mine is cracking too

93lexES300

iTrader: (1)

Why not glue the handle? Use a plastick backing behind the door handle where you don't se it and glue it with epoxy. Save yourself $175.

peppertree

[QUOTE=jdmacken;3629787]No B.S., I replaced mine two days ago. Not too tough to do. About a hour job. My door handle was about $175.00 shipped and already painted.
1990 LS400 ordered from Irontoad.com Good Luck[/QUOTE
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JD, how did you actually do the replacment, do you need to buy a service manual or is there someplace online you refered to for the proceedure?
I am somewhat mechanically competent and would like to do this myself,
but I would have no idea how to take off the inside door, etc etc?
appreciate any and all advice

jdmacken

This is a great resource site for the 1st generation (1990-1994) LS400. Alot of cross over to the Second generation also.

How to remove the inside door panel:
http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/body/fdoorpanel.html

How to remove the outside door handle:
http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/body/fdoorhandle.html

As for the manuals I bought a set off Ebay ( the real factory manuals not an "software set" ) for $75.00

For your car (2nd generation), maybe one of the other members will have a suggestion where to find the factory manual info.

peppertree

JD, thank you, this really helps!

Macc

I just epoxied mine with black epoxy. Barely shows and works great...but I'm cheap.

richonenz

The later 95 to 97 handles go straight in the first gen doors , I have just replaced mine with a handle from a 97 Celsior out of Japan , got all 4 for $40.00 , don't know if later than 97 will swap over .
Must research what new ones out of some of the aftermarket shops would cost .

LexLS

I tried to epoxy mine at first but it really didn't help. I suppose it depends on how bad your particular handle is broken/cracked/whatever. It's nice that the handles come in specific colors. Good to know the second gen handles fit first gen too.