Rear tailgate latch and general looseness

[hobbadehoy]

Hey all, I was digging into the lower tailgate (liftgate? Not sure which is which) and realized that the "U" shaped piece that the release rods connect to is all bent due to the force of opening via the release handle. I tried bending it back but the same thing happened. The rods are only bent at a right angle so they do not stay in the holes on that "U" shaped piece. A similar issue with the pull lock thingy. There seems to be general looseness in all of the rear latches, rods, etc.

Anyone have similar issues or have any suggestions? I am thinking of possibly replacing it, but if the metal quality is the same it wouldn't do me any good.

Thanks!

 

[georgebj60]

Not sure what the u-shaped piece is. And are the bent rods you're referring to inside the tailgate? If so, sounds like something is binding somewhere, the handle on the top of the tailgate should operate the latches smoothly and easily.

 

[OSS]

The strikers that hold the latches on the tailgate are made of hardened steel. Extremely hard.

 

[hobbadehoy]

Yeah so under the handle (in the tailgate) is a u shaped mechanism that holds the release rods for the latches on the end. The actual connector that pivots and holds the two rods is what is bent. I had a feeling that it may some sort of binding as the release is quite hard and takes a lot of force, which may just be too much for the metal. it's a replacement tailgate so the connections may be a bit tighter? perhaps it makes sense to take off the latches and put them back on.

 

[hobbadehoy]

Not sure what the u-shaped piece is. And are the bent rods you're referring to inside the tailgate? If so, sounds like something is binding somewhere, the handle on the top of the tailgate should operate the latches smoothly and easily.

Yeah that's what I think if this isn't a common issue. But regardless there seems to be some general looseness, especially in the tailgate lock on the far right side, it keeps slipping off. Thanks!

 

[cruiserpilot]

pictures help

 

[hobbadehoy]

The strikers that hold the latches on the tailgate are made of hardened steel. Extremely hard.

I figured it out! It was the strikers, thanks OSS! I moved the strikers up so that the latches fully engaged. Then bent the latch mechanism back into shape. I also bent the one rod that kept coming off, so that isn't an issue either. Now just a little turn of the handle and the tailgate comes down!

This was the condition of the latch:

The manual lock-toggle thing on the right side of the tailgate is still giving me trouble, but that's negligible. And also I can't lock/unlock the window manually on the back, the key won't even turn...weird....