Stiff Tailgate?

It comes from not properly lubricating the hinges every couple of months if you are where their is salt, ice and snow that really reeks havoc.

My sons 97 TJ had the same issue I used PB penetrating oil on about the 3rd day of application the tail gate swung free.

Call me anal but every two months I lube all hinge joints with a oil called BreakFree it takes the weather and coats and protects. We used it to protect our exterior guns on the ship.

Thanks Coasty,

I'm in Upstate NY where there can be a ton of salt each winter.

As I mentioned, I've tried lubing the hinge pins without much luck but maybe I just need to keep at it for awhile... I've been using an oil called Corrision X but do have some BreakFree which I can try.

I can't really tell... Is there some sort of "sleeve" surrounding the pin that could be degraded and contributing to the problem?

Thanks again, Bob

Mine (98 TJ) used to be really stiff like that and then one day it opened so easily I thought I was going to pull it off the hinge. Still not sure what broke free but I am glad it swings easy now.

No sleeve just crud and corrosion build up from the salt and I am originally from Schoharie NY an upstater too. Just keep applying the oil and it will eventually get better. Coasty

I've cobbled together a reasonably decent lube made from mixing STP oil treatment with a bit of Castrol Syntec and a bit of Marvell Mystery Oil. Once you manage to get it worked in, the STP pretty much can't be gotten out with any cleaner less effective than semtech or c4.

Harkin proclaimed:

Back when I grease monkied for extra cash, we used to have the trick of dipping a large screwdriver in STP and challenging folks to hold it by the blade with two fingers. Motor Trend once nursed a baja bug home with a hole in the oil pan by pouring STP in it to keep the engine from seizing. Mine started because the idler pully bearing on the serpentine belt would give off a very small squeak for a few seconds on cold starting after a heavy run. I put a couple drops of the witches brew on it almost two years ago, intending on replacing it with a round tuit. Never squeaked since, so the round tuit [plus the new part] are resting in waiting.

L.W.(ßill) Hughes III proclaimed: