Tailgate extremely hard to open/close... Bent? What to do?

Question

My 98 TJ's rear tailgate door has become incredibly hard to open & close. The hinges don't look bent, but cans upon cans of WD-40 don't loosen 'er up. Is there something in the hinge the is prone to breakage? What are my options for fixing the door? (Replace ENTIRE door? Somehow replace the hinges? Somehow get inside the hinge and try fix something?)

I'd very much appreciate any opinions or similar experiences you've encountered! I long for the day when I can once again just push the damn thing shut!

Thanks! Pete

GzrGlide · Accepted Answer

At least i'm not the only one with that problem. If you find out wht the problem is, let me know please. I'm going to seea local jeep guru next week to see what he thinks it might be. I'll let ya know what he says.

Mike

98 TJ SE

Pete · Answer

|| >My 98 TJ's rear tailgate door has become incredibly hard to open & close.| >The hinges don't look bent, but cans upon cans of WD-40 don't loosen 'erup.| >Is there something in the hinge the is prone to breakage? What are my| >options for fixing the door? (Replace ENTIRE door? Somehow replace the| >hinges? Somehow get inside the hinge and try fix something?)| >| >I'd very much appreciate any opinions or similar experiences you've| >encountered! I long for the day when I can once again just push the damn| >thing shut!| >| >Thanks!| >Pete| >|| At least i'm not the only one with that problem. If you find out wht the| problem is, let me know please. I'm going to seea local jeep guru next| week to see what he thinks it might be. I'll let ya know what he says.|| Mike| 98 TJ SEThanks, Mike.. Please do let me know if you find anything out. I know thatit must be something "broken" inside the hinge.. but as for a solution.. I'mcompletely clueless!Pete

GzrGlide · Answer

Well I went and talked to the guy this afternoon. There's a couple of things that can be done. They may or may not work, but either way it has to be fixed asap, otherwise the hinges can/will break and cause all kinds of damage.

Method 1: Empty a can of liquid wrench between the male and female parts of the hinges. Aim for the area where you'll more than likely get it into the hinge pin area. Method 2: Drill and tap a hole for a grease nipple and load that sucker up with grease.

If neither of those methods work then you're pretty much screwed and you have to replace the hinges. He recommended stainless steel ones from Kentrol. He's done this on many TJs and YJs and the problem has never come back. Apparently the metal that they use for the factory hinges is junk and when exposed to a salty environment will only make matters worse. He says that the same thing happens when the door and windshield hinges get older.

Replacing the hinges is no big deal and he says that if all goes well it should take half an hour start to finish. Worst case scenario is 2 hours.

HTH

Mike

98 TJ SE

L.W.(ßill) · Answer

Might take this opportunity to convert to a Real Jeep tailgate:         God Bless America, ßill O|||||||Omailto:     GzrGlide wrote:

Pete · Answer

Any update from Mike or anyone about the cause of this problem?

jeepworm2000 · Answer

i had the same problem on my '00 tj.  i removed the tail gate and  knockedthe pins out of the hinges, found the pins rusted.  i wsed some emery clothto remove the rust. then coated them with some never-seize,  put them backtogether and reinstalled them on the tj.  i now hav a free operatingtailgate

GzrGlide · Answer

How did you knock the pins out. A hammer and a punch or a press?Mike98 TJ SE     wrote:

Tailgate extremely hard to open/close... Bent? What to do?

Join the Discussion

Didn't find your answer?