On YouTube there are several videos with the procedure to fix it by yourself.

 

Good video, thanks.

The new door handles for the front driver side door cost between 15 and 35$ at RA. Guess I’ll go with the Dorman for $35 and hopefully get the best quality a plastic part can offer.

 

Don’t get Dorman or you’ll do the job again. The problem is in the design: Dorman handles are not as good as what’s already on the truck.

Do this to cure the problem.

 

Appreciate the advice. However, my doorhandles held up k60 mls and 14 years. If the new one holds up half of that, I´ll be a happy man. I might consider the Güven part if it was readyly available, but I don´t feel like fabbing up a new part and I don´t have the time right now to mess with the old one.

As an alternative to the kinda pricy Dorman handles, has anyone any experience with ACI, Ultra-Power, SKP or any of the other companies RA lists? I am always suspicious with cheap parts (they run from 10 bucks or so), but then again, ALL of them are plastic and the Dorman part is Made in Taiwan, too, but costs three times as much. Why spent more than you have to if the quality´s not better?

 

The reason that Gruven was, and is still able to keep the production going on the fix for the OEM handles is because the aftermarket do not last. The knock offs are produced with a lower cost, lower quality process.

It’s a first time, 15 minute process to repair on door handle, once, permanently. That’s far better than doing the entire door handle job again. Take a look at the TahoeYukon forum. Search under Gruven and door handles. All the answers to the questions your asking are there. The knock offs do not last.

 

Don’t get Dorman or you’ll do the job again. The problem is in the design: Dorman handles are not as good as what’s already on the truck.

Do this to cure the problem.

I completely agree with your opinion. Whatever it is, you are definitely thinking correctly. It really is. Although I don't know exactly what is being said in this context, I believe that there is room http://essaypapers.reviews/ in our world for the incredible and the inexplicable.

good video thanks

 

I just ordered the OEM handle (Part No. 84053434 ) from GMpartsstore.com. It was $84.30 with tax for the single driver's door handle. I read lots of bad revues on the cheap ones and I only want to replace it once.

 

Update: It took several weeks to arrive, but finally did. I got it installed and I'm glad I paid the premium to get the OEM handle.

 

I have an OEM replacement handles on the Pass & Drive side, three OEM actuators and a few other OEM goodies inside all the doors. For months our truck was having its door (handles) checked for open and occasionally the truck being rifled through. One night the little tweekers came through and gutted everything they normally left alone.

My Tech2 clone, ray-bans, two ir headphones, an extra set of keys hidden in the console, the emergency kit and jumper cables that were inside of it were gone. The decision NOT to add a $2k aftermarket head unit and upgrade to the 2013 SD card Navi just paid off though.

I threw in the towel and turned in a claim to AAA. The $8h claim went to 2x and then 3x the orig estimate. The tech at the dealer said the mechanicals weren’t worn but weren’t behaving normally. The labor and diagnostics was the crux of fixing it.

After rental car reimbursement, parts, labor and a follow up repair, it was just over a $5k claim. “Brittle” was the word used to describe the 3.5 weeks it took to get me back to whole.

If you do crack open Pandora’s box behind the door cards, only use the best parts, especially in the front.

 

I just ordered a cheapo replacement with AMZN and will look at it, if it can be reinforced at the inserts before installation. I will also see, if the old handle can be repaired with new inserts and put it on the shelf.

 

What brand/ part number of the cheapo?

 

Kinda strange to ask, but why did you do the opposite of the advice you asked for?

 

I have a habit of collecting advice, information and recommendation, evaluate it and then take a decision.

 

Nothing wrong with that as long as you post the resolution or outcome so others can use the results as a knowledge base.

 

That is the plan. I’ll be traveling CA and NV for the next two weeks, so bear with me.

 

Another thing to do is put "jimmy jammers" on all the door handles. they are cheap and since you are replacing might as well add a little deterrent. I have the gruven parts on a cheap door handle but will buy a good GM one when the drivers side needs it.

 

So I got my replacement door handle. Cost me 16 bucks delivered to my doorstep while I was in CA.

I examined and compared the new door handle to the old one and while some details are slightly different, I could not see any downsides in design or "quality". Let´s see how the new door handle holds up.

The removal and installation are well pictured in several YT videos, so I will skip this.

The rear insert in my drv side front door handle was spinning freely, so unbolting it was not possible. I slit out the handle with a little force and might have broken the plastic part the insert sits in, I found bits and pieces on the floor of my garage. I swaped the lock and locking rod from the old to the new door handle, greased the new door handle, put it back in place and was done with it. Door opens and closes, locks and unlocks as it should. Fitment is good, although I believe the new gasket in some places is a fraction of the fraction of an inch off from the sheet metal.

I ended up using JB Weld to glue the OEM insert back in the old door handle, trying to use the broken off pieces and glue them back in place, too. Of course some gaps occurred as I was missing pieces. After the JB Weld had cured I used some Presto Adhesive Steel to reinforce the repaired area. Presto is a reknown brand here and I have used this product ever since I started working on cars some odd 35 years ago. The product is a 2k composite and behaves similar to bondo. After curing is gets very hard and can be drilled into, tapped into, sanded, painted, etc. My experience with it is good.

The repaired door handle is on the shelf now in case the new one breaks again. Oh, and I try to use the door handle diffently now: Instead of pulling the moveable part with the full hand I now try to remember to use the thumb against the lock and sort of pry it open.

Here´s some pics:

 

I noticed the after market handle worked fine but just felt cheap when opening the door.

so I actually changed out a working after market handle for an OEM handle because of that.

 

JB Weld makes perfect sense, I wish I would’ve thrown the old ones away now.
The problem is having friends or the occasional valet guy jerk on the handle, thinking it unlocks automatically when you have a key fob with you like the newer vehicles I’ll do.

 

I belive it was this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Three-Compat...,+for+for+Cadillac+Escalade+Base/ESV/EXT/Hybrid+2007-2013&qid=1702645686&sr=8-1

There are tons more, and even cheaper. You may want to check those or do your own seach:

Amazon.com : Three T Car Front Left Side Exterior Door Handle Compatible with Chevy Suburban/Tahoe, Avalanche, Silverado 1500/2500 / 3500 HD, for for Cadillac Escalade Base/ESV/EXT/Hybrid 2007-2013

 

Ok, so barely 1 1/2 years later, the replacement door handle broke again - on the front bolt. It comes off a bit when pulling on the handle upon opening the drv side front door.

I have not yet bothered to look into this any deeper. I do have the "repaired" OEM handle and may put it on in a couple of weeks time or when the situation get worse, i.e. when the handle blocks and I can´t open the door any longer.

I am looking at buying the successor of my 2009 (a 2018) and try and delay all and any repairs and maintenance on the current vehicle until I get closer to selling it.

 

I changed out the "new" broken door handle against the old repaired one this morning. Didn´t take too long as I´ve (obviously) done it before. This is what the "new" door handle looks like:

Same damage as the old OEM one, just after a year and a half instead of after 12+ years. I may fix the "new" one and put it on the shelf (althought the sucessor has arrived coupla days ago).

Recommendation for anyone who needs to replace his door handle: reinforce the moulded nuts with epoxy and let it dry overnight before putting it on the truck. Or do as Pete recommended earlier in this thread.