my passenger door handle broke, not off but cracked. it sucks. im guessing i need to replace it. i called up ford and its a $30 part that $120 to install. all they do is take off the door panel and replace the thing. im going to do it myself obviously, but is there anything i need to know before ripping of my door panel?

 

There are other places that sell those handles plus they are metal for a lot less than $30
You are going to need a drill to drill out the factory rivets.
When I replaced mine, I used small screws that mounted flush. It's an easy job.

 

you need a special tool to install door handles, i peronsally took my car to a body shop to have them installed payed about 60$

 

Since when you you need special tools to replace mustang door handles...unless you call a drill a "special" tool. I replaced one on my 88GT last year.......and my '82

 

haha, yea if thats all it takes, i dont mind taken out the door panel, cuz i sure dont want to pay $60 bucks to have someone else do what i can do.

 

If you use the large rivets that come with the handles, you'll either need to get the rivet gun for them, or have a body shop pull them for you. If you want to use nuts and bolts, then you won't need the body shop.

 

its easy, when putting the new one on use bolts/screws long enough to pu a lock washer and two nuts on each one tighten the first nut to the lock washer and th esecond to the first will never rattle loose on you this way.