This DIY will explain how to remove the factory xB door handles and replace them with after market door handles. Please follow all directions and remember as with all DIY threads, if you break it don't blame me.

First you will need to remove the door panels from the car. If you don't know how to do this here are a few quick shots.

Remove the Phillips head screws from the grab handle, the door latch handle and the area to the front of the panel near the door jam.







This part is not required but I do it to make the job easier. Remove the black triangle piece of plastic above the door panel.



Just pull and it will come off.



Grasp the door panel at the lower left corner and pull outwards.



Continue to pull around the edge of the door panel until all anchors have been released and the door panel can now be lifted up and away from the door.



Disconnect the electrical leads for the power windows and the stock stereo speaker wiring if you are still using it.





Pull back the factory plastic liner being careful not to tear it, you will be able to see the door handle from the inside.



There are two rods connected to the front door handles, these will need to be removed. There are yellow plastic holders keeping the rods attached. By pulling the plastic keepers off you will be able to remove the rods from their mounting holes on the door handle. They can be a little tough to pull so take your time.





There are two 10 mm bolts holding the door handle in place. Remove these bolts and the door handle slides right out.

Installation is the reverse of the removal.

The finished product...






The back door handles are a beeeeeyotch to do. Let me just say that it goes something like this.

Remove the door panels.
You will see one 10mm bolt holding on the rear door handle. There is another one but you won't be able to see it. You can best reach it by placing your arm through the lower panel opening and feeling your way to the bolt with a 10mm combination wrench. Once you loosen the bolt, push on the door handle from the outside and use your fingers to remove the bolt. It's not an easy task and may require you to use a different method. That's just the one that worked for us.

 

niceee. good writeup. this needs to be stickied.

 

Nice write up and even better with pics! Those chrome handles look good on your ride...

 

Thanks, that's not my ride though. That belongs to Dooby. I just did the handles for him. Mine is the PW.

 

nice write up taz. i could have used it when i replaced mine. haha! you're right about the rears. they were a pain to take off. i got a scar on my right thumb now thanks to them. oh well. hahaha!

 

I found out on Club xB that if you remove the striker plate on the rear doors it gives you a clear shot at the nut. Wish I had known that before. =)

 

Nice writeup. I replaced a front on a Camry the other week and it was a bit of a bear. The procedure was pretty much the same. I take it you swapped the lock cylinders into the new latches?

Nice to see a Salsa Red box. Makes my heart flutter.

Cheers,

 

nice write up. alot of people could use thsi

 

Yes we swapped the lock cylinders to the new handles.

FYI: That's not a salsa red, it's 2007 Ford Mustang Red. You gotta see it in person. It was originally TCM.

 

Nice write up Taz...

 

yeah good write up!

 

These instructions were super helpful. One thing that I ran into that isn't addressed here: the rod attached to the bigger clip (the most visible one) couldn't be removed from the factory handle unless that plastic clip was broken. The instructions here say to be careful (with the small one, yes) but the new handle had a larger clip attached and it was necessary to remove the old one.

 

In case anyone from the original thread is still around, this was super helpful! I just got an 04 xB and I've never fixed anything inside a car door but this made it seem easy enough! All is good now! Thank you

 

Your instructions make the job look easy.

 

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