Broken lift gate strut

[shepherd92683]

After a very cold winter and a whole lot of bass, I had the bolt to my lift gate strut break that attaches to the lift gate. No big deal, $5 piece... Problem lies in that it is stripped out and can't thread in. Any ideas what to do to remedy this? Thanks

 

[The_Roadie]

Weld in a patch plate with the thread you need. Might be a job for a body shop if you don't have the skills to weld to sheet metal. Too much force involved to use Bondo or JB Weld or anything but real welding techniques. And the cost of it breaking off might be somebody's hand or head or neck. Glad you weren't hurt when this one let go.

 

[coolasice]

Mine had a nut on the backside that I was able to tighten up...#30 in the picture

 

[shepherd92683]

Weld in a patch plate with the thread you need. Might be a job for a body shop if you don't have the skills to weld to sheet metal. Too much force involved to use Bondo or JB Weld or anything but real welding techniques. And the cost of it breaking off might be somebody's hand or head or neck. Glad you weren't hurt when this one let go.

I figured that was the net result. i don't even want to know how much that small weld will cost.

 

[shepherd92683]

Mine had a nut on the backside that I was able to tighten up...

Originally I thought is was #32 listed above and I bought that part to no avail. In fact, I was excited that maybe thats all it was. At least its new now I suppose...

 

[coolasice]

Originally I thought is was #32 listed above and I bought that part to no avail. In fact, I was excited that maybe thats all it was. At least its new now I suppose...

You need #30

 

[shepherd92683]

The issue is the threads that 32 screws into.There is a screw hole in the first pic I posted. I checked the assembly of the other strut to verify I wasn't missing anything.

 

[coolasice]

Mine has no threads in the gate, the stud goes straight through and the nut is on the other side

 

[BlazingTrails]

Get a threaded reducer bushing, tap the hole to the next size up, and screw it in. If you go by a machine shop they will probably do it for like $20

Edit: probably the easiest solution would be a nutsert. You should be able to find one with the correct threads. Do you have a fastenal anywhere around there?

Good luck

 

[coolasice]

OK. My last comment to this thread. YOU NEED THE NUT THAT GOES ON THE BACK OF THE STUD. THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE.

 

[Sparky]

OK. My last comment to this thread. YOU NEED THE NUT THAT GOES ON THE BACK OF THE STUD. THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE.

Just pop the trim panels off the inside to get to that spot, right?

 

[coolasice]

ok, another comment...open rear glass, remove two torks screws recessed into rubber isolators/stops (#34) of black plastic trim (#35), remove trim piece/s. Nut will be clearly visible attached to strut mounting stud.

 

[BlazingTrails]

ok, another comment...open glass hatch, remove two torks screws recessed into rubber isolators/stops (#34) of black plastic trim (#35), remove trim piece/s. Nut will be clearly visible attached to strut mounting stud.

Damn, that is so easy a caveman can do it!!

 

[shepherd92683]

I'll disassemble some of this and see where I am with it. Will reply when I'm done.

 

[papilgeephd]

I'll be doing this too. My strut came off yesterday when my wife opened the hatch. Rather scary.

Post-edit: INSANELY easy to do, even by yourself if you have strong shoulders. I did notice that that strut seemed a bit... stiff, for lack of a better way to describe it. At any rate, it's reattached.