72 Satellite Sebring Door Latch Question...

[72PLYSAT]

I hope this is the place to post a repair question, if not please pardon me and let me know where I should, thanks-

Q: While opening driver side door my latch broke, and now to get door closed I have to pull up on outside handle and use my finger to hold up the top part of the latch while closing it...

I'm guessing there is a spring inside the latch that holds the top part up that is snapped?
Can you access the latch and repair from behind if I take the interior door panels off?
If I have to replace latch, can anyone suggest a location?
Ebay & Classic Industries have been a fruitless search...

Any help would be appreciated, thanks-

 

[artr8]

Dude, I had the same problem on a passenger side, 72 Plymouth Satellite Sebring. You will have to replace the latch mechanism. Any B body or even E-body will work. (E-body will need to have minor mods on the lock). Sorry you are having the problem but, this is a riveted factory assembly, find a donor.
Interior panel will have to be removed.

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

The ’71-74 category will get this question to more eyes with the pertinent experience for this question.

That said, there is a clock spring in the latch assembly that when it breaks, and it will, the latch behaves as described. Yes, servicing the latch requires its removal, access it from inside of the door shell. Pull the doors panels and moister barrier, disconnect the linkages, three screws in the jamb.

The spring in question requires the latch be taken apart completely, there are latch restoration services that may be able to repair it. A correct direct replacement latch will be hard to find. I’ve had to scavenge the spring from other latches to fix a couple ’71-72 b-body latches.
E-body latches are not the same, but the core of the latch is common to several platforms. I’ve reworked NOS Dodge truck latches as replacements. Yes, it is riveted together, if your have welding skills, the heads of the rivet can be carefully ground off and the washers can be tacked back into place.

 

[artr8]

https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/parting-a-rough-1971-satellite.173532/

A donor may be available.​

 

[Dibbons]

Interesting thread, mine haven't broken (yet). Anyone have fotos (spring, etc) so we can see what we are up against? Thank you.

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

The problem with donor latches is you don’t know many open close cycles it has. The spring fails because of metal fatigue. Used replacement springs could fail again quickly. If you go to all the work, get NOS if you can. Quick check on ebay lists several NOS truck latches, again, not a direct replacement but a good source of wear parts if you want to take on a rebuild.

 

[72PLYSAT]

Dude, I had the same problem on a passenger side, 72 Plymouth Satellite Sebring. You will have to replace the latch mechanism. Any B body or even E-body will work. (E-body will need to have minor mods on the lock). Sorry you are having the problem but, this is a riveted factory assembly, find a donor.
Interior panel will have to be removed.

Thanks! Appreciate the candor!