Spare tire mount reinforcement kit now available from Ford Performance Parts

[DaveInSA]

Installing mine tonight, just wanted to confirm a couple things I’ve read in this thread:

• I’m planning to just have my son and a table w/ jack help me hold the tailgate as I replace the hinges. Is it necessary to do steps 3-6?
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• Also, I read that the internal portion of the hinge, the existing piece is the same as the one in the new kit - can anyone confirm? No need to replace if they are the same.
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• I didn’t get a new bumper stopper in the package, how necessary is it?

I only did step 6. But I just laid the entire tailgate in the rear of the bronco (propping up the side with the wire so as to not put stress on it). If you're going to remove the tailgate, then you need to disconnect the wire which requires steps 3-5.

I did not replace the big bare metal brackets. As everyone else stated they appear identical to what is on there. Maybe they're just included as part of the kit so if it's used for repairs or something. And I'd assume it also requires removing the right rear fender to get those replaced.

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[DaveInSA]

Installing mine tonight, just wanted to confirm a couple things I’ve read in this thread:

• I didn’t get a new bumper stopper in the package, how necessary is it?

You won't get one. The kit had a replacement body panel clip to hold the existing rubber baby buggy bumper in, but you reuse the one you have.

 

[DaveInSA]

Anyone happen to know the part numbers for the conical bolts that hold the brackets on to the tailgate?
I was able to use my existing ones, but the heads are really bungled up from previous owners using wrong bits and painting them.. Would like to replace them if they aren't outrageously expensive.

 

[DaveInSA]

Anyone happen to know the part numbers for the conical bolts that hold the brackets on to the tailgate?
I was able to use my existing ones, but the heads are really bungled up from previous owners using wrong bits and painting them.. Would like to replace them if they aren't outrageously expensive.

Answering myself:
W721746-S450B

 

[SWTstarjo]

Weather has been crap lately, so I haven’t been able to install mine. I did check the box and it looks like the exoskeleton is ok. I will try to install next weekend. Already have a gloss black Bronco, so I’m trying to decided if I want to use that one or the one that came with the kit. I guess once removed, it would be a lot of work to get it back on.

 

[CarbonBronco]

So everyone used Torx plus 40 bits? Last I checked the fit Torx 45 bits so my thinking would have been to get tp45 to fit the bolts on the hinges

 

[Kmautah]

Weather has been crap lately, so I haven’t been able to install mine. I did check the box and it looks like the exoskeleton is ok. I will try to install next weekend. Already have a gloss black Bronco, so I’m trying to decided if I want to use that one or the one that came with the kit. I guess once removed, it would be a lot of work to get it back on.

I used regular Torx 45, worked fine.

 

[bebrown1075]

So everyone used Torx plus 40 bits? Last I checked the fit Torx 45 bits so my thinking would have been to get tp45 to fit the bolts on the hinges

Tp45 on the hinges themselves. Tp40 for the bolts that hold the exoskeleton. You will want to chase the threads on those holes with an m8x1.25 tap. Most likely at least 2 of the holes will be boogered up.

 

[Built2Wild]

I received the kit on Tuesday and have not installed it yet but I did open the box to check the exoskeleton plate for cracks. I have not opened the boxes with the hinges but what purpose does the exoskeleton serve? It seems that the reinforcement comes from the new hinges and the exoskeleton is for accessories or for appearances.

 

[Kmautah]

I installed mine over the weekend, used a chair + jack with a board to stabilize the tailgate while I changed the hinges one by one. Also utilized the spare tire for good measure as another stabilizer. it worked well, I had to make just one adjustment to get it to close properly. I also had to run an M8 x 1.25 tap on two of the threads, as others have noted.

Really happy with the results, gives me some peace of mind with a 37” spare (first time I’d taken that spare off…it’s dang heavy). I do have a headless horse residue that I still need to remove, any tips on that??

 

[Dantastic]

I installed mine over the weekend, used a chair + jack with a board to stabilize the tailgate while I changed the hinges one by one. Also utilized the spare tire for good measure as another stabilizer. it worked well, I had to make just one adjustment to get it to close properly. I also had to run an M8 x 1.25 tap on two of the threads, as others have noted.

Really happy with the results, gives me some peace of mind with a 37” spare (first time I’d taken that spare off…it’s dang heavy). I do have a headless horse residue that I still need to remove, any tips on that??

This may not help you now but I remember when I removed mine originally to replace with a Bronze horse, it came mostly off using a hair dryer to heat it/soften it and then a fishing line to remove it. Cleaned the remainder off with goo gone.

 

[DaveInSA]

As part of this little adventure, I had to use a regular Torx 40 bit to remove a bolt that previous owner had already screwed up.
While doing so, my dewalt 3/8 drive T40 bit snapped in half.
I contacted dewalt because it had a lifetime warranty.

Short version of their response: Yes it is warrantied, but it's been discontinued, so we can't do anything for you.

Long version: I sent the part number and pictures, the lady kept asking questions about what size it is, what's the part number, is it a shallow or deep well......... Evidently they make no T40 torx bits any more or something. Whatever. I just threw it away and bought a different brand. But now I know dewalt's lifetime warranty is pretty useless it seems.

 

[DaveInSA]

I do have a headless horse residue that I still need to remove, any tips on that??

I clean sticker residue off poly-finished guitars often, and to do so I use Zippo lighter fluid. Which is really just naphtha. I'd test on a inconspicuous location first just to be sure, but I'd expect it to be fine on a car clear coat when it's fine on poly finished guitars.

 

[WildOne23]

I received the kit on Tuesday and have not installed it yet but I did open the box to check the exoskeleton plate for cracks. I have not opened the boxes with the hinges but what purpose does the exoskeleton serve? It seems that the reinforcement comes from the new hinges and the exoskeleton is for accessories or for appearances.

The exoskeleton is intended to transfer the weight of the spare tire / spare tire carrier (or a good portion of it) directly to the hinges, bypassing the sheet metal of the tailgate itself. Coupled with the heavy duty hinges, you have a much stronger installation.

Many have commented on how thin the metal portion of the exoskeleton is, and having just picked mine up today, I agree. That said, it's intended withstand a torsional or rotational stress with the midpoint of the hinges being the "axis" of rotation, so I don't think it needs to be that thick. Definitely better than just the tailgate sheet metal.

 

[Built2Wild]

The exoskeleton is intended to transfer the weight of the spare tire / spare tire carrier (or a good portion of it) directly to the hinges, bypassing the sheet metal of the tailgate itself. Coupled with the heavy duty hinges, you have a much stronger installation.

Many have commented on how thin the metal portion of the exoskeleton is, and having just picked mine up today, I agree. That said, it's intended withstand a torsional or rotational stress with the midpoint of the hinges being the "axis" of rotation, so I don't think it needs to be that thick. Definitely better than just the tailgate sheet metal.

Thank you for the insight, I now understand the importance of its use.

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