1960s Exterior door handles - 68 DeVille

[chrisbutnut]

The exterior door handles on my car are reproductions, not OEM, and I've noticed that the buttons stick sometimes when pushing them in to open the doors.  It's like the button or the mechanism behind the button is sticking on something momentarily, and then it clicks free.  I've got my door panels off, so I can see inside the door as I push the button.  I was thinking I could add some sort of lubrication and this would solve the issue, but with the buttons sticking, I'm not sure (they also squeak when pushed, which I assume would be remedied with lubrication). 

I always prefer OEM to reproduction, however the previous owner installed these, I assume because the original were pitted.  Would it be best to try to find a good OEM set of these?  If I lubricate them, what would be best to use?  I have some white lithium grease.  Would that work?

[Alan Harris CLC#1513]

I don't know exactly what causes the buttons to stick, but the OEM handles can also stick. Years ago, I replaced the pitted handles on my 1969 DeVille convertible with NOS GM ones that I bought from the local Cadillac dealer (this was a LONG time ago) Once the handles were installed, they looked great, but the buttons tended to stick. I vaguely recall that they seemed to improve after some use, but I don't remember how long it took. If you want to try lubricating them, it couldn't hurt and might help. White lithium grease sounds right.