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My tailgate would not open again today. Seems like I have to replace those clips every year. I fixed it with metal hardware this time and thought I would share.
I took the latch off and put the arms in a vise. I put an eye bolt 10-24 machine threads through the latch arm, I had to use a 1/4 nut as a spacer because it had a small shank. 10-24 nylock nut on the back side, tightened and then cut the threads off that extended past the nylock nut. The rods are 1/4-28 thread and I put a nylock nut on either side of the eye bolt. No more broken plastic clips.
Great seeing a useful thread as a 1st post. I've rarely seen those break, but have had to replace a worn sloppy tailgate handle before. This idea is worth remembering though, since it seems like a decent idea to eliminate the plastic parts.
My tailgate would not open again today. Seems like I have to replace those clips every year. I fixed it with metal hardware this time and thought I would share.
I took the latch off and put the arms in a vise. I put an eye bolt 10-24 machine threads through the latch arm, I had to use a 1/4 nut as a spacer because it had a small shank. 10-24 nylock nut on the back side, tightened and then cut the threads off that extended past the nylock nut. The rods are 1/4-28 thread and I put a nylock nut on either side of the eye bolt. No more broken plastic clips.
Have you ever gone through a replacement plastic set? I ask because mine are in great shape surprisingly but I did adjust one side (tailgate wear by Bowing in center, technically is more narrow now )
Gmt400 gm trucks from this era have the ****ty handle plastic and the shifty clips usually one sIde fails and you have a fidget bitch of a time trying to fish the rod and then the weak plastic breaks being held swung out to get clearance lol.
but ford did pretty okay 👍 I thought. But the plastic bushing inserts should have been emphasized more factory and then also like Dorman tO put a damn example of how they would each fit on a ford tailgate. I ended up not using a piece or 2 but it was able to I gusss. Not related just ranting
Did you read the first line in post, been there, done that...
Originally Posted by havefastView Post
My tailgate would not open again today. Seems like I have to replace those clips every year.
Did you read the first line in post, been there, done that...
Originally Posted by havefastView Post
My tailgate would not open again today. Seems like I have to replace those clips every year.
although I’m defective enough to normally probably just do that, I am gonna blame using my phone to view the thread instead of my computer. Took about 3 minutes of extracting my reply from the middle of the quote. My phone loads the replies In opposite order and I’m thinking i saw pretty pictures and got ahead myself
I don’t know how they are not working for him unless he had his rods not adjusted or the tailgate has something going on like the catches , strikers. Or other parts. Weird.
I didn't know about adjusting the plastic clips, but where they fold over the tip and clip to themselves is where I have been breaking them. That top flap breaks off.
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