Door Lock Knob Delete

[Preloader]

I want to remove the door lock knobs. Even when the driver's lock knob is down it digs into my arm when I rest it out the window. With keyless entry and the auto-unlock when you pull the inside handles, I can see no reason to need these knobs.
I tried to unscrew them by hand without success. Once I get them off I will plug the holes.
Does anybody know how to get these things out?

 

[Preloader]

OK. I'll answer my own question.....
I used pliers and wrapped the knob in cloth to protect it. Unscrewed it easily. I'll probably cut the last 1/4" of threads off of the lock rod to prevent it from pushing the plugs out when it unlocks.

 

[sbpphoenix]

I capped mine with foam mouse ears.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

 

[hockey]

Write up?

 

[Preloader]

I may do a DIY write-up when I get back from my week out of town. I plan to take the interior door panels off and remove the lock rods completely.

I will warn anyone wanting to do this that if you don't cut the rod down or remove it, the threaded end of the rod on the rear doors may get stuck up inside the door and not allow you to lock that door until you get it freed up.

 

[SSpeckerwood]

what did you use for a plug?

 

[Aldakoopa]

Hope your battery doesn't die while you're in the car... Of course, it would have to be locked first somehow.

 

[SSpeckerwood]

Even with the doors locked you can unlock them from inside just by pulling on the door lever once, then a second time will open the door.

 

[Preloader]

what did you use for a plug?

A 3/8" plug insert from the hardware section at my local ACE hardware. I left the stock rubber hole "bezel" and put the plug in that hole. It looks smooth IMO, but I may experiment with removing the rubber bezel and plugging the whole hole, it's prolly a 5/8" hole.

 

[J T]

I unscrewed the one on my driver's door two days after I got the car back in the beginning of July. Like Preloader, it was digging into my arm in the exact spot I wanted to rest my arm on the window sill. I haven't plugged mine yet, though.

These knobs are the most useless things on the car. I can't imagine why Chevy thought it necessary to waste time and money on designing and installing them.

 

[Eric Smit]

I'm very excited to do this. I just need to stop being lazy.


-Eric Smit

 

[J T]

I'm very excited to do this. I just need to stop being lazy.

Well, you can do the easiest part with little to no effort...unscrew the knob and throw it in the glove box.

 

[Eric Smit]

Likely going to happen. ;P


-Eric Smit

 

[Preloader]

I will warn anyone wanting to do this that if you don't cut the rod down or remove it, the threaded end of the rod on the rear doors may get stuck up inside the door and not allow you to lock that door until you get it freed up.

Be sure to read this warning. I had a short panic attack when I couldn't lock my rear door.:blankface:

 

[Bbostich]

Be sure to read this warning. I had a short panic attack when I couldn't lock my rear door.:blankface:

I just cut the front ones down but I was pleased to see the back turned out to just be a matter of pulling out the entire piece. Now I just gotta run to the hardware store and buy the plugs.

 

[Preloader]

I finally got around to pulling ALL the lock rods in the doors. Man these door panels are the easiest to remove that I've ever seen.

The front door rods are short and easy to yank. The back doors have a two rod linkage. The knob rod is short and could probably be ripped out with some vice grips without even removing the panels. But I opted to take out the secondary rod, which is 2 feet long, as well.

The 3/8's plugs look clean and now my Sonic is almost virtually unslim-jimable. I say almost because the inner handle linkage still unlocks the doors. I'm gonna leave it they way....... because I don't want ppl to think I'm a date-rapist.

 

[SSpeckerwood]

they won't think that unless you have a 77 dodge van

 

[SonicBoy24]

As was said before, I don't understand why Chevy put these dummy door-unlocks in the car when the doors can be unlocked just by pulling the handle... Maybe it is so people(blondes) don't get scared and think that they are locked in their cars. I can see it happening...

I will be doing this when I install my power windows and mirrors, perhaps heated mirrors at the same time. B)

 

[$ub$onic]

Very nice preloader. It looks very clean

 

[SonicBoy24]

I removed my door lock knobs today and as Preloader stated, the hole is 3/8" after the knobs are removed. But for a "cleaner" look you could remove the original plug which the knob went through with one that does not have a hole in it.
Again, I believe it is 5"/8" like Preloader stated. I will be upgrading to that size plug when I install my power windows.

One recommendation I would like to make to anyone who does this:
We all know that pulling on the door opener once unlocks the door, and the second pull opens the door.
However, if the door is Open and you pull the handle, it does not release the lock. The door must be Closed for the handle to release the lock.
I found this out earlier when I was showing off my work to my parents. I pulled the handle to demonstrate the effects of the first and second pulls. However, I shut the door and tried to open it again, and the door was still locked.
Luckily my window was down and I was able to reach in and unlock the door.
Just a heads up.