Why are my outside door handles droopy?

[Slickster]

48 P15, drivers outside handle is hanging down, also hard to release latch to open door....car was painted before I got it, so maybe a spring is missing? thanks

[Tooljunkie]

Couple reasons, if latch is similar to my 51 pickup, the square shaft could be worn. 
Door striker isnt adjusted properly or the door mechanism is worn out. Not familiar with the cars, but are there repops or a reman service for the mechanisms? 
i just pulled the door apart, and found a spring was caught. Moved it back and handle is no longer drooping. 
 

my passenger side was way worse, but square drive was worn out. I bought some key stock and made a new one. 

[Young Ed]

Start with a good oiling of the latch mechanisms. If that doesn't resolve it you have either a spring issue or the handle is worn

[Andydodge]

Apart from renewing the springs or the lock mechanism if worn an old trick was to remove the handle and with it held in a vice use oxy to heat and twist the shaft in the opposite way a few degrees so that the handle sits horizontal even with the "wear" in the mechanism............problem with this is that you have to turn the handle a little more to get the mechanism to work but it was a method done here in Oz, and probably elsewhere when nothing else would work..........andyd   

[Dan Hiebert]

There could be a few issues, or a combination of some or all of them.  Adjustment is not correct, mechanism is worn, or just really dirty.  Start with adjustment per the handy-dandy manual, keep in mind that the adjustment is with the striker, not the door latch itself.  If the latch isn't catching right in the striker when closed, it could lead to both symptoms you noted.  Does the handle droop when the door is open?  If not, it's striker adjustment or wear.  If so, something in the latch is most likely at fault, wear, broken parts, or accumulated grease that has hardened.