A door handle assembly for attachment to an escutcheon, the assembly comprising a door handle, wear washer, spindle nut, spindle nut retainer, and shaft retainer. The door handle has a hub, externally threaded for engagement with the internal threads of the spindle nut, with a central hole and axial slots engaging locking tabs of the spindle nut retainer. The wear washer is inserted over the hub between the inside surface of the escutcheon and the spindle nut. The spindle nut is adjusted on the hub until the proper fit and feel is achieved. The spindle nut retainer is placed over the spindle nut to lock it in position, and a shaft retainer is placed over the spindle nut retainer to secure it. The spindle nut provides more contact surface area with the underlying wear washer, reducing cyclic wear, increasing product life, reliability and security.