2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission TailGate Hinge Broke

[Dave M]

Anyone know a good source to find a replacement left side hinge. It appears to bolt onto tailgate with 2 bolts. The part on the bed is getting worn also but it looks like its welded in. See these pics:

 

[Dave M]

I found these at rockauto but how do you get the old ones out and new ones in? They just don't look the same as I have on mine.

 

[DieselDoghouse]

The answer may lie in the body repair supplement to the service manual (the skinny book). I will try to find mine and respond with useful info!!.

 

[DIESELWRKS]

I believe www.lmctruck has the replacement piece.

 

[DIESELWRKS]

I found these at rockauto but how do you get the old ones out and new ones in? They just don't look the same as I have on mine.

those look like the replacement protective plugs.

 

[GAmes]

The bolt on pieces should be easy to find in a junk yard. All the tailgates are the same. The nubs on the side of the bed are missing the plastic (teflon?) covers. I could send you a pic if need be, but I'm sure there is another 2nd gen around you can look at. It looks like the steel nub part is welded to the bed frame.

 

[DIESELWRKS]

Lmc pic

i believe www.lmctruck has the replacement piece.

here is lmc's part page

# 13 AND 14 SORTA PRICEY.

 

[Dave M]

Thank you all who responded and for supplying all the info. I guess the plastic covers fell off of my nub-a-thingy. I thought I could buy the bolt on bracket with the cup for a decent price.

 

[Extreme1]

The bolt on bracket is a dealer part. The last time I needed one they had it available. There is a differece in years. My '94 tailgate needed different brackets to fit the '01 bed I got.

 

[BGuilty]

bondo and paint will make it what it aint

 

[RDHamill]

do I see a torsion bar on your tailgate? how do you like it ?

 

[kenny61]

the plastic wears off the the metal rubs through the hing and you end up with what you got. I bet your top latches are worn as well which lets the tail gate drop and wears more on the hinge. The metal pins need to be cut out of the bed and the newones welded in. I called LMC truck about the lowers 2 of them would be close to the cost of a tailgate with all new hardware. I will be calling them myself soon to verify if the tailgate they sell comes complete with hinges and upper latches if so I'm hoping Santa will bring me ones as mine is now being held on with a strap

 

[kenny61]

While I'm here would anybody be willing to give me a measurement on the width of their tailgate opening from sheetmetal to sheetmetal directly above the hinge pin and a little higher up say sheetmetal to sheet metal directly above the taillight screw? I think my bed may be a little tweaked (bow legged)

 

[MAleshire]

Buy the hinge assembly at a junk yard. Ditto on the nubs being welded to the side of the bed. The cup on the hinge assembly has a nylon grommet that goes inside of it, and that rotates on the nub. The grommet is probably the part you need most, but from the looks of your hinge assembly you need to replace the whole thing. I bought the grommet from the dealer about 6 months ago. The cost was under $10. As above, if the grommet is missing it allows the tailgate to slip down and miss the catch at the top of the tailgate.



Skip

 

[Dave M]

I got this truck used about 6 years ago. I suppose It never had the grommit things so that caused the damage you see. Also I added the torsion bar to the tail gate which causes the gate to be tensioned away (to the right) of the damaged left pin/hinge so it pushes it off at the end of the hinge. The torsion bar may have added to the further damage. I do like the torsion bar. It makes the tail gate very light when opening and closing.



I don't live close to a junk yard so it may take some time to locate used parts since I work during the day. I was hoping to buy the left side hinge but LMC lists it at $189 and the tailgate with hinges (according to the note on that page of catalog) comes with the hinges. If I went that route I'd buy the whole tailgate. I plan to get a used part if I can and get some new grommits.

 

[kenny61]

the groomits are still available from the dealer and I thought LMC sold them too. From my experience dont do the plastic without replacing the hinge it will chew it up in 2-3 weeks

 

[DFerverda]

Will a 97 Bed off of a 1500, fit on a 98. 5 ,2500 frame/truck? They look the same but i haven't measured or done any more then just eyeball the difference.
Dirk

 

[Dave M]

While I'm here would anybody be willing to give me a measurement on the width of their tailgate opening from sheetmetal to sheetmetal directly above the hinge pin and a little higher up say sheetmetal to sheet metal directly above the tail light screw? I think my bed may be a little tweaked (bow legged)

Those measurements are 64 1/2 inch and 64 5/8 inch on my truck.

 

[kenny61]

Those measurements are 64 1/2 inch and 64 5/8 inch on my truck.

Thank You!!!

 

[Dave M]

Well, I ordered some parts from Rock auto: the plastic inserts shown in post #2 that fit over the nubs on bed and fit inside the hinge are rock auto PN #38641 (crosses from Dodge PN 55275016) for $8. 50 and the tailgate cables #38522 (Dodge PN 55345124 RH, 55345125 LH) for $7. 23.



The price on the LH hinge which bolts onto tailgate (Dodge PN 55274917 described as "Rivet, tailgate, left") is $193 from Dodge and $189 from LMC Truck. I will try finding one in junk yard or repairing mine.



The welded nub on bed that the hinges fit over (Dodge PN 55274936AB "Bushing, Tailgate, Pivit") are $6. 55 ea from dealer so I will purchase them when I can.



I am missing the rubber bump stops (on on each side of bed above the welded on nub/bushing) and are $13. 43 ea from dealer (Dodge PN 55274842). I can't find another source for those so I'll get them from dealer.



Here is my redneck temporary fix using a scrounged up plastic pipe fitting and please don't laugh... well go ahead: