has anyone tried one of DeeZee’s tailgate assist shocks on a bronco tailgate?

 

I'm going to guess that your torsion bar is broken on your tailgate. After I replaced mine, I have to push the tailgate down to extend it all the way. With the new torsion bar it has changed it from a heavy SoB to feather light. Mine broke inside the rubber sound deadening tube on the right angle bend on the far left side of the tailgate. Without the torsion bar I needed the spare tire latch for a handle to lift the tailgate.
Take a look at this to see how to fix it.
Torsion System Broken in tailgate - Ford Bronco Forum

 

Thanks Dave. You’re right it must be broken. There is no pressure on the bar at the bracket on the passenger

 

The bar may not necessarily be broken, especially if the glass has not suffered catastrophic damage. Inside the gate there is a metal trough that is formed from two stamped pieces of steel. I've seen one or both of these pieces rust badly enough to let the bar slip out of the trough thereby losing the efficacy of the torsion bar but not providing the tell-tale shattered back glass to alert the owner.

 

Thanks. Received the bar from LMC today so I’d have it in case it’s broken when we take it apart. Well see in few days.

 

I was wondering the same thing??? I was gonna try it this weekend and see how it goes. I'm a shrimpy girl and struggle bus my dang gate all the time. I'll let ya know how it goes I guess.

 

Laina, It's an old thread
Remove your cover and inspect the torsion bar
The tailgates are feather light to operate when it is all there and working properly
Good luck, Paul

 

Chris your neighbor on facebook has some good you-tube videos of tailgate repair. shows the torsion bar brackets and all.

 

When you or whoever fixes it
Put a garbage can with some wood and towels on it behind the open tailgate
That way when you raise the glass with the tailgate open
The glass will not somehow unexpectedly pop out of there and break
Done it
You be careful
Good luck
BTW those torsion bars are a bit mean to replace (have help, modify a deep socket maybe) if it helps