Exterior Door Handles

Hello All,
Was at Carlisle shopping for parts and was thinking about some door handles for my 1974 Plymouth Duster. All the major parts vendors carried them but there seem to be 2 different handles at 2 different price points. I have not had my door apart yet so I wasn't sure which type mechanism I needed. One type door handle had a metal ball tip (cheaper price) that connected to the inner workings to actuate the door mechanism and the other handle had a plastic type clip (TrimParts, authentic resto parts) that connected to inner inner workings to actuate the door mechanism. Can anyone offer any insight regarding the difference? Seems the metal ball tip would be stronger than the plastic tip.

v/r
Ron

I was wondering the same thing. I heard you can swap out the mechanisms.

My 73 Sport has the type with the plastic clips that hold the rod in the hole in the door handle operating mechanism. Just replaced them (and the locks) with a set I bought on Ebay. Very nice chrome and very nice price.

Later models do use have the plastic clip type. i don't know exact year they changed.
At one time both types were not reproduced by aftermarket. Those with the other type would have to remove new/wrong parts from their brand new reproduction exterior handles and put their original parts in them. Reason being, either mechanism behind the thumb button requires the correct type attaching rod down to the latch mechanism.