I have a few old broken drivers side outside door handles that are broken where the rod attaches,,,  i now realize i have a broker passenger side handle.. can i use the old drivers side handles for passenger side and just put the rod on the other side of the handle that is still good??? will that work or are the handles specific to the side???

Edited July 19, 20213 yr by Shawninvancouver

Yes, you can.  I used to do this all the time.

Perfect

Yep, I've done this myself over the years.  🙂

i put in broken door handle from drivers side to passenger side,,,,  it will technically work but half of the handle still pulls out of the door.. it wont last long.. its like a half arse handle .... im trying to jb weld it so it will work more like a normal handle..

JB weld probably won't work in this situation. It doesn't like to be flexed. Seals holes, drill it, mill it. Can even pull on it, but flexing, not so much

Bummer. So how can I fix the broken side so I can use the broken drivers side in the passenger side???

Those doorhandles are made of zamac.. It's a disasterous "metal" a mix of aluminium,copper,zinc.. it rusts from the inside of airbubbles that are IN the alloy.. so you can't stop the decay  The ornament "Z"on the c-pillar, (air outlet), are also made of that stuff.. a restorers nightmare! 😞 

Those doorhandles are made of zamac..

At least it starts with a Z! :p

Buy another one

45 minutes ago, Patcon said:

Buy another one

There are both very affordable reproductions and not that much more expensive OEM ones available from all the usual vendors.  

https://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/CTGY/classic02o02e01

Edited July 26, 20213 yr by zKars

The topic is....

Can i use broken drivers side door handle on passenger side??

BTW... have we all read this correctly?  you can't use a broken one! On any side!!  (Yeah i know i'm what we call overhere a : "muggezifter"  ...  No translation possible..  let say someone who is very critic on his (or sometimes other peoples) work.. 🙊