I've been nursing my handle on my rear hatch fearing how difficult it may be to replace. It has gotten to the point were it looks like any day it will fall off. Anybody know how much trouble it is to replace and do I need to buy the entire assembly?
Rear Hatch Handle
- Thread starter 80 Cruiser Rod
- Start date
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I actually have just the handle part I could sell you, if you're interested PM me.
- Thread starter
- #4
I'll PM you.
If i were you i would get the hatch glass resealed. That is a sure sign you have a leak around the glass or somewhere in the hatch. If you wait , it will cost you. Trust me on this.
- Thread starter
- #6
When I take the door apart I'll be able to tell if the window seal is failing. IMHO I don't think that is the problem. Here in the northeast there is a heavy use of road salt which is the usually cause of rust here. The metal use for the handle looks to be pretty thin. Judging the amount moisture in the pic under the hatch tells me that it is road spray.
80 Cruiser Rod...I agree with you. My handle is rusting away as well, but the rear window seal is still fairly sound. We get a ton of salt here in the winter, but mine is not near as bad. Pending what you find and hopefully report on I may follow suit and replace mine.
Have you called CDan (or another parts source) about the cost of a new handle?
Have you called CDan (or another parts source) about the cost of a new handle?
- Thread starter
- #8
I might be getting the handle off of another Mudder. I need to find out if is the one I need.
as long as your tailgate isn't too crushed in right above there, it's easy. the two bolts and a couple of plastic rod clips, iirc. you will need to pop the plastic off, then push it up and in and manuever it till it's out. it's spring loaded, so it may feel like it won't come out, but you push a bit more and it will move and slide right out. hard to explain, but i just did it a couple weeks ago. fwiw, mine was also a midwest rig, handle was rusted out and window seal is fine.
Like nuclearlemon said....the seals are fairly solid. But it seems like the steel on the handle and bolts is very susceptible to rust.
nuclearlemon...where did you pick up the new handle and what else did you replace?
nuclearlemon...where did you pick up the new handle and what else did you replace?
80 Cruiser, I just need the plastic piece... If you get the full setup Cannon80 and want to get rid of yours PM me. Thanks
I have the same problem and live in the midwest. Window seal is good, but the handle is rusted out. Replacing it is on my to do list.
- Thread starter
- #15
Thanks to fellow mud-er Cannon88 and a warm 44°, I replaced the handle today without too much of a problem. It was a little bit of a tight fit but after loosening up all the other linkage it wasn't too bad.
Thanks again,
Dan
Thanks again,
Dan
80 Cruiser Rod....glad to hear the job was easy.
I have fresh parts on the way from American Toyota (~$40 w/ all hardware). I am not sure if you took any pictures while you were in there but if I get a good day of weather next weekend I may try and do a step-by-step with pictures.
Any additional advice before I dive in?
Thanks
I have fresh parts on the way from American Toyota (~$40 w/ all hardware). I am not sure if you took any pictures while you were in there but if I get a good day of weather next weekend I may try and do a step-by-step with pictures.
Any additional advice before I dive in?
Thanks
- Thread starter
- #17
Tips: Take a picture of the linkage before you dis-assemble it. You will have take out all of the mounting bolts to all linkage so you can move the other linkage assemblies to make room to R&R the handle assembly. The pic will reference were everything goes when you re-assemble the linkage. I wish I did that when I went to put it all back together. You also need to compress the handle a little bit to get it in and out of were it sits. Oh, one other thing, I asked my wife to hold the hatch door to lower it while I sat on the tailgate and did the install.
Good luck and let us know how you make out.
Good luck and let us know how you make out.
Glad it worked out well for you! 
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Upper hatch release handle for 80 series
I have had these handles that have started to rust and sent then to the powdercoater. They sandblast it and coat it. This is more of a preventative measure before the rust becomes unfixable. If yours is totally gone and you are replacing it, you may be able to do this to the new piece before installing it to give it a little more life time.
I have had these handles that have started to rust and sent then to the powdercoater. They sandblast it and coat it. This is more of a preventative measure before the rust becomes unfixable. If yours is totally gone and you are replacing it, you may be able to do this to the new piece before installing it to give it a little more life time.
- Thread starter
- #20
I have had these handles that have started to rust and sent then to the powdercoater. They sandblast it and coat it. This is more of a preventative measure before the rust becomes unfixable. If yours is totally gone and you are replacing it, you may be able to do this to the new piece before installing it to give it a little more life time.
The handle I got to replace mine with is in very good condition without any rust at all. Considering the old handle had 250,000 plus miles on it hear in the NE were salt is use pretty heavy through the winter, if I only get 100,000 miles out of my new one I'll be happy. But thanks for the suggestion.