Tailgate part question

[AMink]

My tailgate fell off the other day while hauling my quad on a rough dirt road. The cables kept it on the truck, so there is no damage. My question is, is there a cup or "bearing" on the right hand side of the tailgate in the piece that attaches the tailgate to the bed? The left side appears to have a plastic cup in it, but I think I might have lost something on the side that has the cut in the metal cup. Problem is, I can't close the tailgate all the way with the quad in and it was only closed to where the slot in the cup is. Does that make sense?:-laf

 

[steved]

One side should have a "D" shapped bushing that allows that side (driver's?) to lift off and the other should have a round plastic bushing. When installed, the gate should have no (or very little) play at the hinge... if you have slop, you are missing a bushing.



I crushed mine in the 99 at some point, bought the replacement from dodge for $5 IIRC.

 

[drtrox]

Install the new bushing, reinstall the tailgate then put a hose clamp aroung the cup with the slot and your tailgate won't try any more bungee (cable) jumps.