Tips on removing rear door handle?

[Heap O' Jeep]

I am getting ready to paint my 1989 Jeep Cherokee 4-dr and I need a little help. I managed to get the front door handle and mirror off with no issues, I just pulled the plug to the "access hole" for the first nut and then the other nut was near the middle of the door and easy to get to.

I get to the rear and the inner nut on the door handle is simple to get to but the "access hole" for the other one is blocked by metal, probably the lock mechanism? Looks like the "lock mechanism" blocks the nut on the inside too, making it nearly impossible to get a ratchet in there.

Any tips to remove the back nut of the rear door handle?

 

[ehall]

it's the latch mechanism, just put a torx bit on the three screws that hold the latch in place and either loosen enough or remove and reinstall. pretty simple

 

[Heap O' Jeep]

You are correct sir, thanks for the input!