Door lock actuator replacement - which style?

[7ftbill]

(86 Capri)
While my doors are apart, I'm replacing bushings, motors and the actuators. For the actuators, I have watched the CJ Pony vid where they use the old bracket, or the LMR vid where they replace the bracket and re-rivet it.

Which style do you prefer?

I bought the rivets (with the actuators) just in case, and was going to hit harbor freight for a large rivet gun ($20), which I don't mind owning.

[wraithracing]

Either should work just fine. The rivets are just difficult to set properly without the correct rivet gun. Even with the proper gun you have to be careful not to chip or scratch the paint when the rivet mandrel finally snaps! Good Luck!

[KevinVarnes]

I haven't done an actuator on a Mustang door, but I usually just pop the old actuator out of the bracket and install the new actuator into the existing bracket. Mostly because I don't own a rivet gun large enough for those rivets (nor do I care to buy a cheap one to do them), but also because on the actuators I have done it really was pretty easy to do it this way. I usually buy NOS Ford actuators off of ebay and they usually come with their own bracket which probably won't match the vehicle I am installing it in. I usually have to swap the rod ends as well. I tried the cheap aftermarket actuators once. Never again.

[JTurbo]

I usually just pop the old actuator out of the bracket and install the new actuator into the existing bracket. Mostly because I don't own a rivet gun large enough for those rivets (nor do I care to buy a cheap one to do them),

I tried the cheap aftermarket actuators once. Never again.

+1 on this

[steam_mill]

12 years ago, when Imgot my car, passengers side actuator was pooched.

When to the wreckers and grabbed 2 for $5. Changed the one, old bracket. Still works 12 years later.

The hack for the rubber rain protector is to us a bicycle inner tube. Saw that on the corvette forums.

[vxr500]

I ended up just leaving the bracket and putting the new actuator in. Lots of cursing and contorting though! Just in case, I did buy the one with the bracket though, and picked up the correct rivet gun at harbor freight for 20 bucks.