Well, after reading this board and doing some research the last few weeks, I pulled the trigger on a 1995 XLT, 5.8 l with 188k kms (115k miles) in good shape and no rust for $6,500 cdn ($5,000 us).

The only problem is the tailgate wasn't closing for the previous owner. To get the window up, he leaned against the tailgate and this strained the window and it broke. I bought a Haynes manual and it shows how to replace the glass, however I can't find anything on the latching mechanism.

I took the tailgate apart and there are four rods connected at a fulcrum. Two of the rods are horizontal and connect to the latches; one vertical rod connects to the release handle; and one vertical rod appears to go down to the bottom of the tailgate. This last rod was not connected to anything and there was a small broken spring (about an inch long) in the bottom of the tailgate.

The fulcrum and the rods were a little stiff and rusty, so I have lube'd them up.

Where does the lower vertical rod attach and where does the small spring go?
As the mechanism is inside the tailgate, it is hard to see. Does anyone have any diagrams of how the latch works? How can you get the rusty rods out of the plastic clips that hold them in the fulcrum?

Thanks in advance,
Ned

 

Okay, I found a picture at bronco graveyard and am one step closer.



Now I need to find where the lower vertical rod attaches to the bottom of the tailgate...

Ned

 

The lower rod doesn't attach per se to anything. The window bottoms out against it and allows the entire mechanism to work properly. This is a safety to ensure that the window is fully open before the unlatching mechanism will work. If the window isn't all the way down, the tailgate won't open.

 

Thanks Greystreak. That would explain the rubber bushing on the bottom of the rod.

 

I think that small spring belongs to the latch handle. The bottom vertical rod is supposed to fit against the large-diameter rod along the bottom of the tailgate. I have a few pics of the pieces at my supermotors.com gallery under "88 parts Bronco". The little plastic clips that hold the rods together on the latch just slip off and pop out with a bit of effort. I would definitely get the latches working first before installing the glass. THe driver's-side latch has a safety feature that will not let the glass go up or down if the tailgate is not fully closed. That's why the dude had to push on it to make it work.

 

Shootme, it's not the spring from the latch handle (it is fine) it looks like the spring in the photo of the "tailgate release assembly" from Bronco graveyard.

Yep, I will fix the latching before I go buy new glass.

You aren't kidding about a "little effort" for removing the rods from the clips. The rods are a little rusty and impossible to get out without breaking the clips.

 

SOme WD-40 works good on those, take care so you don't break any. Post up on your progress. I split the '88 tailgate and robbed it of all parts, and remember how most of'em go.

 

Well, I went to Home Depot and picked up a similar spring to the one that broke. I was able to get it into place on the release assembly as in the photo above, and everything works great.

Now, I just need to get the glass replaced. I called around town today and the lowest price is $280 cdn ($216 usd) installed.

Thanks for your help.

Ned

 

Yea the glass isn't cheap. Check with some salvage yards. You may get lucky and find a replacement there. Good job on the other parts tho.

 

Check the classifieds here for my ad on the 88 parts Bronco. I still have the rear glass for sale.

 

Thanks shootme, but I think it will be safer (and probably cheaper) to get the glass locally, rather than ship it across border into Canada from Texas.

 

just shootme where are you at , and do you still have that glass for sale , ill be looking for new glass when i buy my replacment tailgate .

airrikk17

airrikk17@hotmail.com