Well crap...how do i fix this? (last hinge nut is misaligned)

[Draughon]

Was installing the Hammerbuilt tailgate reinforcement plate and in the name of all that is holy....the last damn bolt will absolutely not go in.

Bolt won't "bite" and screw in and neither will original bolt hardware.

I'm a newbie at this stuff - how do I fix this?

Sponsored

 

[HeliPilot]

Those nuts move inside the door. You probably aren’t actually threading into the nut. Pull the bolt and see if the nut is misaligned.

 

[Draughon]

It won’t go in any farther than that - you might be on to something.

 

[Bmadda]

Those nuts move inside the door. You probably aren’t actually threading into the nut. Pull the bolt and see if the nut is misaligned.

What he said! I have done a couple of those now, and ALWAYS one hole is a PITA. The nut is on a little plate that's held to the tailgate w/sheetmetal tabs. Don't try to force it, or you can knock the little nutplate into the tailgate. I used a long straight pick to try to align the nutplate, then real quick install the bolt. Last one I did took me a while...don't know why it didn't wana go for so long, but I got it w/patience

 

[TEAMSLO]

I did this install recently for a friend and yeah, the last one was a pain. I almost was giving up when I thought of an idea and luckily it worked.

Before tightening up the one adjacent to it, use a small screwdriver or a skinny thin tool to keep the 2nd one lined up as good as you can. Then tighten down the first one. This may allow the adjacent 2nd one to be lined up.

 

[HighVelocity]

Seems like you don't need it for this case, but for future reference, threads are typically repaired with heli-coils.

 

[Draughon]

Yup - you guys are right. It's the little nut on the bracket inside the tailgate. It's dropped about 50% down and the holes won't line up.

I have been DICKING with this thing for 6 hours... finally gave up.

I've tried poking things in to hold it up, no good.

I've tried loosening the other hinge bolt a little, inserting a wire to hold it up, then cranking the other bolt tight - still no go.

I've tried holding it up while someone holds a fishing magnet (75lb) on the other side to keep it in place. No go there either.

Why the hell is there no access point to get to these damn brackets / nuts?!?

I am defeated.

(with a 3/4 ass install)

FInally put the original bolt back in (noticed it has a tapered tip) HOPING it would catch the edge of that nut and lever it up a bit. That didn't work either.


;-(

 

[swamp2]

Seems like you don't need it for this case, but for future reference, threads are typically repaired with heli-coils.

Or, in many cases with minor damage, a tap, as mentioned prior...

 

[Draughon]

A suggestion has been made to put a little magnet on a string in the slot behind the tailgate to grab the bracket / nut and hold it in place so the bolt can grab it.

trying that tomorrow.

 

[TEAMSLO]

Just give it a little bit of time..... then go back out n try again. Once you get it done, you'll have even more unique vocabulary coming out of your mouth.

 

[da_jokker]

Put a nut on the bolt and thread it all the way up to the head.

Then us a grinder to taper down the end of the bolt. Be careful not to sacrifice too many threads... I don't know how much extra the bolt will stick out of the back of the nut.

Use the nut you installed in the first step to unthread and clean up the grinded down threads, removing any burs.

Now that the bolt is tappered, as long as you can get some of it in the hole...it should hopefully align.

Just an idea... Another would be to put some sealant/glue on the nut, hold it in place with a pick long enough for it to dry a bit and hold...the try.

Just be thankful the nut hasn't fallen off in the back of the tailgate. That is happened to other people and I don't actually know how they fixed it. I know one guy cut a hole in the tailgate he got so pissed.

 

[MayhemMike]

Never tighten any one bolt on a multiple bolt arrangement . Get them all started then tighten. I also suggest removing the entire apparatus and reinstall by threading the bolt you are having issues with “ first”. Now that you realize the nut can move you can attack the install from that understanding.

 

[Draughon]

LOL! I had quite a litany of new words coming out yesterday..

Just give it a little bit of time..... then go back out n try again. Once you get it done, you'll have even more unique vocabulary coming out of your mouth.

 

[TEAMSLO]

d quite a litany of new words coming o

LOL ask me how I already know this..... What was a 15-20 minute job turned into a couple hours. And like you, was about to give in. I think if it weren't for being a friends vehicle, I would have. Felt like I just won some championship once completed.

 

[Dannebrog53]

Put a nut on the bolt and thread it all the way up to the head.

Then us a grinder to taper down the end of the bolt. Be careful not to sacrifice too many threads... I don't know how much extra the bolt will stick out of the back of the nut.

Use the nut you installed in the first step to unthread and clean up the grinded down threads, removing any burs.

Now that the bolt is tappered, as long as you can get some of it in the hole...it should hopefully align.

Just an idea... Another would be to put some sealant/glue on the nut, hold it in place with a pick long enough for it to dry a bit and hold...the try.

Just be thankful the nut hasn't fallen off in the back of the tailgate. That is happened to other people and I don't actually know how they fixed it. I know one guy cut a hole in the tailgate he got so pissed.

I’ve used the same trick before and it works good, make sure there’s enough threads left to catch and completely engage the nut when tightened down.

Sponsored