Painting the door handles???

[SoCalBurt]

I have a black 4R 5th Gen and so far i've blacked out
almost all the chrome trim on the truck. 3 months later
so far so good, everything is holing up nice but i have to
admit i'm a little intimidated at the thought of painting the
door handles. The would complete a nice look to the truck
but i'm afraid of how it will hold up being those handles see
alot of use. Has anybody done theirs and how is it holding up?
What was your process and type of paint. I saw a couple threads
on this but was curious if anyone has taken that on lately. It would
be kinda expensive to throw the trail edition handles on but perhaps
i may have to do that.....i'd rather paint them if possible. If any
paint guys are on the forum please chime in.

 

[Antman]

Alot of members are going with the Plasti-dip spray paint. Seems to be holding up pretty well. I wonder if you could sand the handles down (assuming the plastic is black underneath). I bet if you used a really fine grit paper and wet sanded, then used some plastic polish (Novus works well) you could have handles that can't chip. Just a thought... You will definitely get some hand cramps there.

 

[adio3x]

Plasti-dip x2

 

[snow&surf]

I painted my door handles once and they've held up great. I think it's been almost one year and no scratches, nicks, or chips. I used krylon fusion flat black (this was before I discovered plasti-dip) but would recommend krylon because of the smooth texture. My truck is an LE with the door handle sensors that lock/unlock the truck when touching the top and interior of the handles and the krylon paint has not affected this function at all. I don't know if plasti-dip will because of its texture.

Painting the door handles was the scariest part for me too, but after you do one, it's easy but there's also no turning back at the point. I followed doodman's thread exactly for http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/63476-blacking-out-runners-chrome.html as I'm sure you've already read and that was the easiest way for me without buying TE handles or removing the handles from the doors all together. Just be prepared to not drive your truck for one day.

 

[AArmour_4runner]

took mine off today, body shop is painting them tomorrow. I will post pics

 

[harper7]

took mine off today, body shop is painting them tomorrow. I will post pics

Any tips on taking the door handles off? I painted mine last winter with the Krylon Fusion Satin Black on the truck. They have held up pretty good with a couple of nicks from people's rings and rocks that I touched up.

I'm just going to replace them with TE black ones and be done with it as they are not that expensive. The front part of the front handles look like they will have to be modified a little because of the touch sensor pads on Limiteds.

 

[AArmour_4runner]

My 4runner is a limted too. Take them off and paint them! The handles really were not to hard to take off once you know how. I'll write a DITY and post it. I will post pictures tomorrow. I will also be painting the hood flat black and removing the winshield and painting the roof and spoiler. The paint will hold up much better and last just as it would have been from the factory.

 

[SoCalBurt]

Great responses guys, doesn't sound too difficult. If i can find a way to remove them as stated i may go that route. I gotta throw my hat in the ring for plasti dip....thats what i've used to black out most of the trucks chrome. That stuff is great, i've pressure washed those areas and no chipping or flaking. For you guys who painted the handles did you use an adhesion promoter and or a primer? I used a couple coats of adhesion promoter on some of the parts i blacked out and those parts look slightly better but the whole truck looks great. Its black on black.

 

[Brad2064]

does anyone know the part numbers for all four TE door handles? Cost? and is it a one piece unit or is there a handle part and a base? Thanks

 

[sp8ball]

My 4runner is a limted too. Take them off and paint them! The handles really were not to hard to take off once you know how. I'll write a DITY and post it. I will post pictures tomorrow. I will also be painting the hood flat black and removing the winshield and painting the roof and spoiler. The paint will hold up much better and last just as it would have been from the factory.

*BUMP*

I ordered color-matched door handles, and I'm looking to see if anyone ended up posting a "how to" on door handle removal.

I will admit - I'm intimidated by the thought of taking the door apart...

 

[yvetters77]

Sp8ball,

Will the color matched handles work with the limited touchpad? I'm wondering if this part replaces only the chrome fascia or the whole handle.

Also, which handles did you order. A part # would be super helpful.

Thanks!!!

 

[mountaineer83]

Sp8ball,

Will the color matched handles work with the limited touchpad? I'm wondering if this part replaces only the chrome fascia or the whole handle.

Also, which handles did you order. A part # would be super helpful.

Thanks!!!

It will replace the whole handle. As far as you having a LTD, then your part # would probably be different than the ones sp8ball used due to his being an SR5 and not having the smart key.

You can check out his build thread and he has a break down of how he replaced the handles, along with the many other mods he has done so far. It's an excellent, in depth and very informative thread. You can find the link in his signature under his post above.

 

[sp8ball]

Sp8ball,

Will the color matched handles work with the limited touchpad? I'm wondering if this part replaces only the chrome fascia or the whole handle.

Also, which handles did you order. A part # would be super helpful.

Thanks!!!

You can find the part numbers for the handles in this posting - but the part numbers are specific to the color of your truck. To answer your questions...

1) I don't think they'd work with the Limited, seeing as they're just plastic handles.

2) It replaces the whole handle.

It will replace the whole handle. As far as you having a LTD, then your part # would probably be different than the ones sp8ball used due to his being an SR5 and not having the smart key.

You can check out his build thread and he has a break down of how he replaced the handles, along with the many other mods he has done so far. It's an excellent, in depth and very informative thread. You can find the link in his signature under his post above.

Thanks for the kind words!