[surfcitylocal]

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.

[Dooby]

The driver side was alot easier once we knew how to get it done...the one side took us about 30 minutes to get it lose and off, the driver side took 5 or 10 minutes

[Padanky]

Drop the rear door latch assembly and you have a straight shot at the rear bolt. Atleast thats how most other cars are, haven't done the rear handles in a xB.

[surfcitylocal]

Originally Posted by Padanky

Drop the rear door latch assembly and you have a straight shot at the rear bolt. Atleast thats how most other cars are, haven't done the rear handles in a xB.

We thought about that but it looked like more trouble than help. If anyone knows of an easier way post it up. We couldn't find anything that would give us a straight shot. The door rods and the child proof lock were in the way as well.

[Padanky]

It can be a pain, others use a cable set-up which is easier to move than the hard linkage rods,

[sdsnybny]

Originally Posted by Padanky

Drop the rear door latch assembly and you have a straight shot at the rear bolt. Atleast thats how most other cars are, haven't done the rear handles in a xB.

Chris you are right on the money, that's the way outlined in the Toyota manual and it makes it way quicker....

Great write up guys!!!!!!!
I love my chromies

[Padanky]

Thanks Steve, I was pretty sure about it, just never had the panel off on the rear doors for too long.

[B2FiNiTY]

Took me 2 hours to do the front alone but if I did it again, 15 minutes or less for sure. The part that took the longest was removing the rod from the door handle and putting the lock back on.

It is much much easier after you drop the door lock assembly, 4 bolts total and easy to put back together.