2010 Big Horn Door handle removal..

[KsBowhunter]

Wanting to plasti-dip my door handles to get rid of the chrome, but getting them off is driving me nuts. The rear of the handle pops off easily, but the front won't come loose. Does anyone know if there is a small screw or connector that I'm missing to get them off? I could spray them on the truck, but I'd rather not. Either that or does anyone know a company that sells ready to paint replacements? I'd rather not go back to Dodge just because of how expensive they are for everything. Thanks !!1

 

[quietpeen]

since you are plasti dipping, i would just tape around it very good and cover the door with plastic and spray it in place. Not as much worry like regular paint since it will peel off.

 

[KsBowhunter]

Before I checked back in I found spray Plasti-dip and did all that. The problem I found was getting enough of a coat on the backside of the handle. After 5 or 6 coats it still didn't cover thick enough and started to peel the first time I grabbed the handle (the next day)... I did get my only remaining ram head emblem covered and it came out pretty nice. Now I'm just stuck trying to figure out if I should retape and spray the handles again, or if I should wipe it off and just spray with that spray paint thats meant for plastic. I really didn't think it would be this hard to get rid of chrome door handles....

 

[garner]

How long between the time you sprayed it and used the handles?

 

[KsBowhunter]

The next day. Sprayed again and let set 48 hrs in 85-90 degree weather and they still peeled. Without getting the handles off you just can't get enough of a coat on the back side to prevent peeling..

 

[KsBowhunter]

Well I got bored yesterday so I went ahead and took my inner panels off and then worked one handle off. Sprayed about a 1/4 can of plasti-dip on it and then remounted a few hours later. I'll attach some pics. Some at Dodge thought it would be fun to put 2 tiny allen head screws in the front end of the handle. The only way I could see to get to them was to wedge something in the handle to hold it pried apart and then slide a very small allen wrench in. Turning about a tenth of a turn each time. In the pic of the handle hanging I stuck a screw in one of the small holes to help control the handle while I sprayed. It won't be used at all today, so I'm hoping that many coats, with this much time to set up will work better. If not, then its off again to be painted.



Taking this black panel off was WAYYY too much work, so I just slid a socket into that black cut-out to loosen the handle.

 

[KsBowhunter]

Finished all 4, thought I'd show a couple more quick pics in case anyone ever wants to try this at home..

This one shows the actual screws..


And the finished product. Used 2.5 cans of dip to cover all 4 handles. I wasn't going to risk them not getting a good enough coat and peeling again. Let them set out in the sun at 90 degrees all day yesterday to make sure they were set up and then remounted today.