Black Door Handles - good sources?

[tdinardo]

I've got my 08 in with the dealer to replace the door lock actuators and since they're already pulling the door panels to do that, I thought it would be a good time to swap the chrome door handles for black. Unfortunately, they stopped making them in 06 and one of the three is sold out, so sourcing OEM isn't an option. The options on Amazon have questionable quality based on some of the feedback. I was looking at the black powder coated billet ones, but it seems only Pirate has them, and they're not the most responsive to phone/email, and their website is a half finished work in progress, so I'm not too thrilled about buying from them.

Any other options out there?

 

[High Five H2]

I got some black handles from gm parts direct. they have them. I have seen billet ones in other places, so you might search around. you could just powder coat them yourself. That's what I'd do. the OEM ones aren't very durable.

 

[Scarsman]

You might look on rockauto. I think I saw them on there awhile back.

 

[LoJac963]

I've been wanting to swap out mine for black as well and install the black billet door buckets I've had sitting in my garage for years. The only reason I haven't is because I really don't have any insight on removing the door panels. Considering what they cost if one cracks or breaks I don't know if it is worth it.

Here are the part numbers if you need them:

FRONT:http://parts.nalleygmc.com/showAssem...=0&modelYear=0
HANDLE,FRT S/D O/S(BLACK) - LH: 15104792
HANDLE,FRT S/D O/S(BLACK) - RH: 10360326


REAR: http://parts.nalleygmc.com/showAssem...ng=door+handle
HANDLE,RR S/D O/S(BLACK) - LH: 15104797
HANDLE,RR S/D O/S(BLACK) - RH: 15104796

 

[tdinardo]

Thanks for the part numbers. I agree completely on the install. That's why I wanted to tie the install to other dealer work. Since the actuator replacement was under warranty and they're only charging me a half hour per door, I figured now was the time to take care of it.Well, yesterday afternoon I broke down and ordered the pirate ones since they ended up costing about the same as stock when accounting for shipping. I'll update the thread when I get them and they're installed since I've had a hard time finding decent pictures of what they look like installed.

 

[High Five H2]

duh

 

[tdinardo]

I thought the panel had to come off on the 08-09. I don't see a plastic plug on my 08. Maybe I'm blind or missing something.

 

[tdinardo]

OK. I broke down and bought a subscription to Mitchell1 to get the disassembly procedure for the 08.

1. Remove door trim panel
2. Remove water deflector
3. Remove window
4. Disconnect outside door handle rod
5. Disconnect lock cylinder rod
6. Remove three nuts retaining the door handle.

This would definitely take me more than 30 minutes per door.

 

[High Five H2]

I just realized you're talking about an H2 and I'm talking about an H3. I'm sorry. this is like the 3rd time I've done that. I need to start reading forum sub-sections better.

 

[tdinardo]

Awesome. Yes, please shoot a picture.

 

[Renagade132]

Amazon and eBay usually have them too!

 

[tdinardo]

Got the billet handles on Saturday and dropped them off at the dealer. Just got a call from the dealer... they do not fit. Joy.

 

[tdinardo]

A quality plastic welder and Dremel can make them fit. I personally would not recommend this solution unless you have time to kill. I'll post a separate mod thread on how to do it shortly to hopefully dissuade people from doing this to themselves. What a huge PITA.

 

[Renagade132]

I got a few parts from Pirate brand for my H2, and they have all fortunately fit perfectly. Sorry to hear about your dilemma brother

 

[tdinardo]

It's nice stuff, but it would have been really good to know mods were required with the stock dishes as it would have changed how i approached it. I mentioned that to them yesterday.

 

[LoJac963]

Are they saying the handles only work with their billet door buckets?

 

[tdinardo]

No, their specific statement was: "Sometimes the stock plastic buckets have to be clearanced a bit to use the billet handles."

Since the buckets are the same for all year, it should have read "always", and "clearanced" isn't really accurate since there's no way to do that without plastic welding or epoxying the backside since the amount of material that has to be removed to make them fit requires removeal of all, or most, of the stock material in some areas. By the time I got to the forth one I had the removal requirements and shape dialed in, so it took about 20 minutes. On average for all four it was about 45 minutes each. Using epoxy would have taken significantly longer and would not have yielded as good a result. Final result for me was really good. I took photos yesterday. I'll try to get a writeup done today.