Having repaired many more of these than I've replaced, I'd recommend going with Ron's suggestions, unless you've already got a salvage trip planned. Another common reason for the rattling and looseness is a rubber bumper used as a backstop-- it falls apart. You can slide a 1/2" length of vacuum hose over the pin to restore it good as new.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Check the simple things before you buy replacement parts. It could be as simple as a loose screw.

My door driver's door handle was loose and rattled. One day the whole thing came out in my hand. I popped off the inside panel, and found the handle mount screws in the bottom of the door. I put it back together with a drop of blue Loc-Tite on each screw. No troubles since.

Coincidentally, the day that the door handle fell off was the same day they announced that Ford bought the Volvo car division. Spooky!

-Ron DeBlock
'89 244 208Kmiles (front end mashed by suicidal deer)
'90 245 188Kmiles

Yes, front and rear are interchangable but not left to right. 75-93 will fit, but I think at 1 point they changed the thread pitch/size of the mounting screws, so save the screws from the donor car just in case.

Yes--you can use a rear door handle from the same side of the car. I've done it on a 1980. Don't know that there's anything different about the newer models.

I know what you mean about the blackout finish. I've been looking for a piece of door trim for two years for my 1992. Finally I put in a piece with the metal insert--it doesn't look as bad as having nothing at all. You may have to do the same with your door handle.

Or--if you live where the 240 was a big seller, you might look for a 4-door Turbo junker with a solid left rear handle--seems to me they had blackout finish on the handles etc.

One last gasp alternative--swap the front and rear handles on your car.

Good luck.

Doug Harvey