This thread is to gauge interest in possibly offering replacement exterior door handles for the FD. Please *DO NOT* add your name unless you are *ACTUALLY INTERESTED* in purchasing replacement exterior handles for your car. We need an accurate gauge of how much interest there would be in these parts to see if offering them would be a possibility based on production numbers and cost.

Here's the skinny: We're working on possibly offering replacements for the plastic exterior door handles. As many of you know the exterior door handle *shell* is cast aluminum, but to cut costs mazda used a plastic handle pull insert (the part you actually pull on). Unfortunately as many of us know, over time the plastic becomes brittle, and the door lock mechanism becomes stiff, leading to the unfortunate day that you go to open your door and snap the handle off. Nothing like literally holding a broken piece of your FD in your hand to ruin your day, and then to call the dealer and find out that the replacements are, how should we say, not "cheap"

Solution? Aluminum replacement door handle grabs.



Fix it once, Fix it Right! These handles should last the life of your car. Even if your handles aren't yet broken (due to the age of the plastic, and lock mechanism) we've noticed a huge increase with friends and customers cars over the last couple years. At this point it honestly just seems like a matter of time before the old plastic handles let go (I babied my 93 AND 94 FDs and broke handles on both in the last two years, spending ridiculous amounts of money on plastic Mazda replacements). Two months back another handle broke, and I'd had it. Time for a permanent fix.


If you are *seriously* interested please add your name below. With enough people on board we can make this happen (we would need 40-50 people to put this into production)

The estimated cost would be around $200 for a set shipped (give or take) and we might even be able to do a discounted package deal with our interior replacement aluminum door handles that we already produce -> https://www.rx7club.com/group-buy-product-dev-fd-rx-7-269/gb-fd-aluminum-passenger-door-handle-sakebomb-garage-922132/






Thanks,
Heath and Dan

 

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What is the difference between what you are proposing and what these guys do? http://www.rx7doorhandles.com/

 

I have no clue, I've never played with a set of their handles, and didn't know they existed till now. Their casting looks pretty rough (though you'll only see the front surface which hopefully is finished smoothly), but there seems to be a ton of material added to the back, which honestly is complete overkill strength wise. It was probably done for ease of drafting (pulling it out of the mold), but it's basically unnecessary weight. Ours is pretty much an exact casting of the stock mazda handles, but in aluminum. I can't comment on the fit of theirs, but at the end of the day we're both pretty close to each other as far as pricing, (I think we could end up slightly cheaper, but if you know our products... "cheap" isn't what we're after, just quality products).

We were estimating somewhere around $200 for the pair shipped, or $399 for a pair of exterior + our interior handle shipped.

 

I wish I would of waited. I paid that much just for the interior handle. And now I can use a set of aluminum outside handles.

 

Yes for me!!! Could possibly be talked into an interior one as the GB gets closer.

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Dan, You know I'm good for a pair. I don't need them right now but ya never know.
Regards,
Crispy
- Lifelong SB patron

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I am a very satisfied SB multi-puchase customer. Count me in!

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Count me in, provided I have the money. If it gets closer to the 40-50 person minimum and it looks like I cant come through, I'll just remove myself from the list.

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is this an option? $399 for a pair of exterior + our interior handle shipped.
if i wanted that deal should i put my name on this list?

 

None of my handles are broken so this is the perfect opportunity to throw money at it, hopefully it'll make the broken items on my car jealous that they aren't getting the attention.

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1. mrhetrick
2. CrispyRX7
3. Chon
4. Beckrx
5. Tuesday (I should really get a better username)
6. Orbitalmovment - Interior exterior package deal
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How about you thrown in a deal with the footrest

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I need a new handle like everyone else but isnt the actual problem inside the latch?
my plastic handle goes up and down fine, its just not springy
is this just a replacement for latches that are cracked?

 

Have you oiled the inside or you actually have some internal mechanism that's cracked? I'm looking at one now and there is a spring, and a few hinge/joints... the internals are all metal construction aside from the handle itself. With a new aluminum handle... it just needs to be oiled (or your spring has come off).

 

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1. mrhetrick
2. CrispyRX7
3. Chon
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5. Tuesday (I should really get a better username)
6. Orbitalmovment - Interior exterior package deal
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Do urs open and close without modification to the handles? I had to dremel the ones I got from them and the passenger door still doesnt open and the drivers side is getting harder to open every day

 

Yes, these are EXACT replicas of the stock plastic handles. If you ask anyone about SBG products you'll probably hear the same thing... we aren't the cheapest out there, but our quality is second to none. We build parts that we literally put on our own cars (5 FD's between us) and we are both extremely, how do you say... **** retentive about the details, quality, looks, fitment, etc of the parts that go on them.

 

Add me to the list please, I'm worried one day I might not be able to get in my car

 

Add me to the list please

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1. mrhetrick
2. CrispyRX7
3. Chon
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6. Orbitalmovment - Interior exterior package deal
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Of course I'll need a set.

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6. Orbitalmovment - Interior exterior package deal
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6. Orbitalmovment - Interior exterior package deal
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Why not

Interest List:

1. mrhetrick
2. CrispyRX7
3. Chon
4. Beckrx
5. Tuesday (I should really get a better username)
6. Orbitalmovment - Interior exterior package deal
7. Chill93FD- Package deal for 93
8. Flat_Boostin'
9. theorie
10. KaoticFDR1
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John