Power Lock Actuators

ledzilla

ledzilla

Road Pirate
So, some years ago, on both front doors, the rivets holding the lock actuators in place sheared off. Having no money to spend, I rigged them in the doors so they'd stay put as I didn't have any tools that could remove the remaining bits of rivet.

Now, I know I can't be the only one who's had this happen. I figured I revisit the issue since they don't operate well like this, and thought I'd ask what others have done to make the repair.

Going to be adding this to my to-do list for both cars. It's getting long...
 
I think I used a one inch screw and lock washers. I would have used a lock nut also but made do at the time. It so happened the screw did not stick out past the nut so nothing to snag a loose dress (I don't wear dresses or sit on that side). The downside is there is a shiny spot where is was all black, but no one will notice.
 
MOTOWN said:
How about drilling out the rivets, and using screws and bolts?
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Well, the remaining chunks of rivet are actually stuck in the actuator mounting brackets. Haven't had much luck getting them out. Probably was going about it all wrong with ths wrong tools, knowing me.
 
mongoosebynight said:
I think I used a one inch screw and lock washers. I would have used a lock nut also but made do at the time. It so happened the screw did not stick out past the nut so nothing to snag a loose dress (I don't wear dresses or sit on that side). The downside is there is a shiny spot where is was all black, but no one will notice.
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I had thought about that route, once I could remove the remaining rivet chunks. But I was thinking that it would be a panhead screw, with the head on the outside for that very reason, so there's nothing that could cause a snag. Only downside is that my fingers are terrible at bolding this kind of stuff in place while I try to maneuver the pieces.
 
ledzilla said:
I had thought about that route, once I could remove the remaining rivet chunks. But I was thinking that it would be a panhead screw, with the head on the outside for that very reason, so there's nothing that could cause a snag. Only downside is that my fingers are terrible at bolding this kind of stuff in place while I try to maneuver the pieces.
Click to expand...

Did you take the actuator out of the bracket? I remember having difficulty with part of it but I don't remember what. I think I pulled the remainders of the rivet out by just pulling the bracket (or even turned the bracket like a screw). I think I put the nut on the outside for lack of room to maneuver.
 
Pop the center stud out of the rivet, bend the ears back and forth until they brake off, remove the body of the rivet.

Use a Stainless Steel 1/4-20 x 3/4 bolt and nyloc nut to secure the new actuator, making sure the bolt head is on the outside of the door.

I've done this hundreds of times.

BTW...... This also works with window regulators.
 
mongoosebynight said:
Did you take the actuator out of the bracket? I remember having difficulty with part of it but I don't remember what. I think I pulled the remainders of the rivet out by just pulling the bracket (or even turned the bracket like a screw). I think I put the nut on the outside for lack of room to maneuver.
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I think I had tried to remove the bracket but couldn't. It's been quite some time.
 
fastblackmerc said:
Pop the center stud out of the rivet, bend the ears back and forth until they brake off, remove the body of the rivet.

Use a Stainless Steel 1/4-20 x 3/4 bolt and nyloc nut to secure the new actuator, making sure the bolt head is on the outside of the door.

I've done this hundreds of times.

BTW...... This also works with window regulators.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I was actually quite uncertain about what size bolt to use. As for window regulators... After the experience I had I'm never trying to swap one out myself ever again.
 
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