Door Handle Disassembly for Color Match ..

For anyone wondering how the outer chrome/color match handle cover comes apart from the inner handle assembly, I can confirm that it is strictly double sided tape and some locator tabs. It is some rather strong double sided tape similar to that of the badges, but the curvature/location of it makes it seem a bit harder to separate.

I was able to get a trim prying tool under the front corner of the chrome cap and slowly peel it back to start to get it to separate. Once separated, most of the adhesive ends up on the handle cover which is a bit harder to remove from than the inner handle. I used some Goo-Gone gel and let it soak for a couple days with did the trick on the handle cap.

I thought about trying EasyOff oven cleaner (used to work great on headlight bezel chrome) but I think this chrome is likely a bit stronger than that of internal to headlights. I'll be scuffing and self-etch priming these prior to color match MGM/2K clear regardless. I've painted over chrome several times with aerosol primer/spray paint without issue. Worst case I mess it up and have it painted somewhere!

 

Looks like a lot of work to clean them up! I did the swap for factory color match and while it wasn’t that awful, it wasn’t great either- especially when I realized I didn’t flip the lever on the two back doors and had to repeat their removal and reinstall the next day

 

The inner handle portion was rather simple to clean up. Mostly just used my thumb to push most of the adhesive off. I could have done the outer handle covers all in the same day, but since I had plenty of time, I just let the Goo Gone work it's magic. That being said, once I paint and choose to remove the ones on the truck, clean-up of the handle remaining on the truck will be straightforward and I won't have to take inner door apart.

I'm hoping to make a video during the removal of the ones on the truck just to show it better.