Soft open lower tailgate for LC (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter teambell
- Start date
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Ok, decided to tackle this today. Here first is a list of parts
LX Left Hinge - 66120-60021
Damper - 67028-60010 (Ebay Japan $40 plus $20 shipping) See previous posted link
Bolt for Damper - 91673-A0622
Check Cables - 65706-60030 ( I went ahead and replaced both, as the originals were pretty rusty)
Torsion Bar - 68870-60020 (You may not need this but mine had rusted out and broke, more on this later. Ordered 4 new bolts for this too, same bolt as above 91673-A0622)
Tools
10 and 12 mm sockets
Panel popper kit - noted previously
T-40 hex driver (to get check cables off / on)
Small drill bit and 7/32 bit.
First step is getting interior panel off
Remove 4- 10mm bolts. I used the panel popper kit to get started on removing the interior panel. Once you get one or two out you can get your hands in there and pull up the rest. It requires a little force, but fortunately I didn't break any of the rivets.
Next was getting the check cables off. This proved to be the toughest part for me, as they were rusted to the point that the T-40 hex driver was stripping out the cable end. I ended up snipping the cables and using locking plyers to turn the cable ends. Seems like the ends are made of a soft metal, stripping out that easy.
Next remove the tailgate. I had a Rubbermaid bin handy and put a towel over it. Have something ready to rest the tailgate on once its off.
Remove 4 - 12mm bolts holding the hinges to the gate.
Next step is remove the left hinge from the body, attached by 3 - 12mm bolts. - I used an extension to get in there
Next I mounted the new hinge to the tailgate using the 2 - 12mm bolts
LX Left Hinge - 66120-60021
Damper - 67028-60010 (Ebay Japan $40 plus $20 shipping) See previous posted link
Bolt for Damper - 91673-A0622
Check Cables - 65706-60030 ( I went ahead and replaced both, as the originals were pretty rusty)
Torsion Bar - 68870-60020 (You may not need this but mine had rusted out and broke, more on this later. Ordered 4 new bolts for this too, same bolt as above 91673-A0622)
Tools
10 and 12 mm sockets
Panel popper kit - noted previously
T-40 hex driver (to get check cables off / on)
Small drill bit and 7/32 bit.
First step is getting interior panel off
Remove 4- 10mm bolts. I used the panel popper kit to get started on removing the interior panel. Once you get one or two out you can get your hands in there and pull up the rest. It requires a little force, but fortunately I didn't break any of the rivets.
Next was getting the check cables off. This proved to be the toughest part for me, as they were rusted to the point that the T-40 hex driver was stripping out the cable end. I ended up snipping the cables and using locking plyers to turn the cable ends. Seems like the ends are made of a soft metal, stripping out that easy.
Next remove the tailgate. I had a Rubbermaid bin handy and put a towel over it. Have something ready to rest the tailgate on once its off.
Remove 4 - 12mm bolts holding the hinges to the gate.
Next step is remove the left hinge from the body, attached by 3 - 12mm bolts. - I used an extension to get in there
Next I mounted the new hinge to the tailgate using the 2 - 12mm bolts
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Image shows the mounting bold for the damper, which I already drilled. The following images show how I put the damper in place to mark the spot to drill, and a little surprise.
I pushed the tab all the way in before marking the hole. Just as a check I put my hand inside and surprise! Found a welded nut in there!
Going back to drilling the hole. I started with a very small bit to make a pilot hole, to make sure I was lined up correctly. As long as you have the damper pushed in to where the tab fits in, as shown, you should be right in the center of where the welded nut is. I was able to get the pilot hole right through to where the nut is. I then used a 7/32 bit to carefully drill out the body metal, noting not to go all the way through and strip the threads on the nut.
Another pic showing the welded nut, bolt install
and another use for the panel popper tool. Keeping that damn flap out of the way
Once I got the hole drilled I test fitted the damper to the hinge. Next take off the hinge and damper from the tailgate. You have to mount the hinge to the body first (3-12mm bolts), then attach the tailgate to the hinges (2 - 12mm bolts on each hinge).
Here is the mounted look. You can now add the damper to the hinge with the 10mm bolt.
Next install the check cables, either original or new (strongly recommend). When trying to take off the old check cables the T-40 bit was too big so I used a T-30. The new cables the T-40 was the perfect fit? Just a note to make sure you have the proper bit.
and another use for the panel popper tool. Keeping that damn flap out of the way
Once I got the hole drilled I test fitted the damper to the hinge. Next take off the hinge and damper from the tailgate. You have to mount the hinge to the body first (3-12mm bolts), then attach the tailgate to the hinges (2 - 12mm bolts on each hinge).
Here is the mounted look. You can now add the damper to the hinge with the 10mm bolt.
Next install the check cables, either original or new (strongly recommend). When trying to take off the old check cables the T-40 bit was too big so I used a T-30. The new cables the T-40 was the perfect fit? Just a note to make sure you have the proper bit.
And that's pretty much it. As you may have seen my torsion bar had seen better days and was actually not doing anything for me.
I've just ordered the new torsion bar and mounting bolts so will finish this up next week when parts come in ( will hit the new torsion bar with some fluid film). The damper by itself does not seem that impressive, I think it needs the torsion bar to get the full effect.
Maybe someone can post a short video of their LX tailgate going down so I can compare when I put my torsion bar in.
Final step would be putting the interior trim panel back on, which I won't do myself until finished.
Cheers
I've just ordered the new torsion bar and mounting bolts so will finish this up next week when parts come in ( will hit the new torsion bar with some fluid film). The damper by itself does not seem that impressive, I think it needs the torsion bar to get the full effect.
Maybe someone can post a short video of their LX tailgate going down so I can compare when I put my torsion bar in.
Final step would be putting the interior trim panel back on, which I won't do myself until finished.
Cheers
That's pretty involved!
I have an LX. What area are you looking for pics of? Just torsion bar?
FYI, also integral to the lower hatch, is a power latch mechanism. Does the LC have this? I wonder if having the damper added, might make it a bit harder to slam it shut properly?
I have an LX. What area are you looking for pics of? Just torsion bar?
FYI, also integral to the lower hatch, is a power latch mechanism. Does the LC have this? I wonder if having the damper added, might make it a bit harder to slam it shut properly?
I think the damper will help on the way down and the power latch means you don't have to slam it on the way up. On mine the lower hatch doesn't raise itself. However, if you get it high enought the power latch will grab it and close it the rest of the way.
There appears to be a pre-marked spot for drilling the hole on our ‘16 LC.
Nice write up!!!
There is a mark on my 08LC that I initially thought was it, but it didn't line up, not even close. Make sure you double check, could be different on the 16'
Received the torsion bar this afternoon. Removed the tailgate, installed the torsion bar with the 4-10mm bolts. Reinstalling with the torsion bar in was a little bit of a pain, you have to get the tailgate almost on, without bolting it, in order to slip the torsion bar under the tab. I also took this time to grease the right hinge, as the new left hinge was lubricated.
The tailgate took a while to come down without the interior trim and tools. Once everything was installed the tailgate comes down nice and smooth, with a noticeable slowdown at the end. Nice feature.
The tailgate took a while to come down without the interior trim and tools. Once everything was installed the tailgate comes down nice and smooth, with a noticeable slowdown at the end. Nice feature.
Good to hear. Did you order the LX bar or the LC bar?
My damper just showed up, "overnight parts from Japan."
My damper just showed up, "overnight parts from Japan."
This is a great mod. Thanks for sharing! How has it held up? Still working? Has anybody done this to the newer models? Are the parts the same?
