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

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

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

Pete wrote:

>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
>

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

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

Pete wrote:

>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
>

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

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

Pete wrote:

>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
>

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

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

"GzrGlide" <GzrGlide02@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:g5pAb.42819$MW5.63388@news1.mts.net...
| Pete wrote:
|
| >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
| >
|
| 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


Thanks, Mike.. Please do let me know if you find anything out. I know that
it must be something "broken" inside the hinge.. but as for a solution.. I'm
completely clueless!

Pete

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

"GzrGlide" <GzrGlide02@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:g5pAb.42819$MW5.63388@news1.mts.net...
| Pete wrote:
|
| >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
| >
|
| 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


Thanks, Mike.. Please do let me know if you find anything out. I know that
it must be something "broken" inside the hinge.. but as for a solution.. I'm
completely clueless!

Pete

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

"GzrGlide" <GzrGlide02@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:g5pAb.42819$MW5.63388@news1.mts.net...
| Pete wrote:
|
| >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
| >
|
| 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


Thanks, Mike.. Please do let me know if you find anything out. I know that
it must be something "broken" inside the hinge.. but as for a solution.. I'm
completely clueless!

Pete

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

Pete wrote:

>Thanks, Mike.. Please do let me know if you find anything out. I know that
>it must be something "broken" inside the hinge.. but as for a solution.. I'm
>completely clueless!
>
>Pete
>

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

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

Pete wrote:

>Thanks, Mike.. Please do let me know if you find anything out. I know that
>it must be something "broken" inside the hinge.. but as for a solution.. I'm
>completely clueless!
>
>Pete
>

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

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

Pete wrote:

>Thanks, Mike.. Please do let me know if you find anything out. I know that
>it must be something "broken" inside the hinge.. but as for a solution.. I'm
>completely clueless!
>
>Pete
>

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