Freightliner door handle

Actually, all the magic happens on the back side of the outside door handle. You’ll need to remove your inner panel it’s held in by push in type Christmas tree looking things, then you can remove a 5x6 panel to access the back side of the outer door handle. You’ll be able to play with it and find the slop. It could be as easy minor as a $.35 plastic rod bushing or as major as replacing the $135 outer door handle or the main latch. You might have to work the parts man pretty hard to get him to find the right plastic bushings if that’s what you find wrong.

 

each Rod in there has a factory bend in it, don’t be afraid to give them a little more if needed. They have a tendency to straighten with everyday use.

Back when the fleet was FLD’s, I “rebuilt/readjusted” a bunch of those doors during the PM’s.

 

the bend in the rod is the right answer, it does straighten with time. when opening the door if u pull it all the way and it still doesnt open push level with the striker which is about eye level and it will pop loose. push like youre trying to latch it and by doing that it takes pressure off the latch and lets it release from the striker. once u take off the door panel you can see the linkage move with the handle so the more u bend the linkage the more it pulls to open the door. with the panel off theres nothing to hold the lock linkage so make sure the door is in the unlock position or the latch will be bypassed.

 

Get used to fixing them, Lol.Drivers side top plastic price, available. Passengers hard to find. Found a good one at junkyard. Eventually, you’ll need one, I find that by pulling door in slightly, latch will work easier. Had mine apart for a while now. Passengers side, all good. New seals, rust free vents from junkyard. Still need to paint and install latch and insulate.Drivers new seals, insulation, vent, hinge, top plastic latch panel, still need to install regulator, got window hanging by zip ties. Lol. No hurry they’ll just wear out again. Need to make new door panels too.But As stated it’s all in the rods and outside latch. Inside latch has rod toboutside latch, which does all the work, they get wore out quick, buf can sometimes be carefully bent, but usually doing so just makes it worse, sloppier, they eventually start to miss the lever that opens latch.