The swing gate just knocked me over lol

[Nibroc99]

Hey all, I'm laughing at myself for this one. I've had issue with the strut being a bit aggressive at damping on my swing gate for some time now. Is it supposed to be hard to open? I just opened my swing gate and it literally sprung back and knocked me on my ass!! Wondering if I need to replace the strut or if there are any other options out there that replace the strut? I'm off to get some ice for my tookus now.

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[Brian_B]

I've had issues with my strut popping off the mount, so I replaced it, and a couple of months later the strut itself broke off at the mount. Each time the tailgate flies open and it's a monster.

I have a third strut in a box ready to install, but I had put the original back on after the second broke and so far it's holding, so I'm just not gonna bother it until it starts giving me issues again.

My spare tire mount has a safety catch to keep it from slamming into the tail light, but damn is that thing heavy if it pops loose and you are on an uphill slope.

But to your particular question - no, it should not be hard to open at all. It shouldn't spring open, but it should "assist" you opening it, it has a couple of stops in travel where it will hold the door (can't recall exactly, something like 60°, 90°, 120°), and it should take some pressure to close, but not be overly difficult.

If you are under warranty, it's a good thing to just ask the dealer and see if they won't just replace it for free. The actual part from Ford is only about $70. Part number is M2DZ-78406A10-A

For aftermarket support - I really haven't seen anything better, but I'm all ears if something does pop up. There are some third party struts on Amazon, but I've never had good luck with those so I didn't try any of them. Of course, I'm not exactly having great luck with the OEM strut either, so ...

 

[dejones64]

To OP, Mine has always been like that. I learned to just push it open to where I want and wait for the strut to catch up and stop. I assume that's normal.

 

[BlueWaffle]

Just eat more burgers.

 

[Nibroc99]

To OP, Mine has always been like that. I learned to just push it open to where I want and wait for the strut to catch up and stop. I assume that's normal.

Gotcha, maybe I'll have to just try using more force on it and being ready for when it fights back. It certainly creaks a bit when I push harder on it which just makes me nervous about the mounting point of the strut on the swing gate. Looks like it's just on the sheet metal which could stress over time and fracture, unless there's a hidden thicker plate inside that I don't see. Good to know I'm not alone in this though.

 

[broadicustomworks]

Just eat more burgers.

I mean, that's my go-to solution for about anything.
Paper cut? Moar burgers.
Flat tire? Eat a burger and see if that helps.
Slow internet? Well a burger sure isn't gonna make it any worse.

 

[Nibroc99]

I've had issues with my strut popping off the mount, so I replaced it, and a couple of months later the strut itself broke off at the mount. Each time the tailgate flies open and it's a monster.

I have a third strut in a box ready to install, but I had put the original back on after the second broke and so far it's holding, so I'm just not gonna bother it until it starts giving me issues again.

My spare tire mount has a safety catch to keep it from slamming into the tail light, but damn is that thing heavy if it pops loose and you are on an uphill slope.

But to your particular question - no, it should not be hard to open at all. It shouldn't spring open, but it should "assist" you opening it, it has a couple of stops in travel where it will hold the door (can't recall exactly, something like 60°, 90°, 120°), and it should take some pressure to close, but not be overly difficult.

If you are under warranty, it's a good thing to just ask the dealer and see if they won't just replace it for free. The actual part from Ford is only about $70. Part number is M2DZ-78406A10-A

For aftermarket support - I really haven't seen anything better, but I'm all ears if something does pop up. There are some third party struts on Amazon, but I've never had good luck with those so I didn't try any of them. Of course, I'm not exactly having great luck with the OEM strut either, so ...

It certainly does the opposite of assisting me in opening it, or closing it for that matter. It's easier to close than to open, but it doesn't really pull it shut when I close it, either. I've parked on some steeper uphill slopes and it is indeed pretty heavy to close! Maybe it's worth me talking to ford about enacting my ESP bumper to bumper plan to see if they'd cover this thing.

 

[Nibroc99]

I mean, that's my go-to solution for about anything.
Paper cut? Moar burgers.
Flat tire? Eat a burger and see if that helps.
Slow internet? Well a burger sure isn't gonna make it any worse.

Man, a tasty burger or two sure ain't gonna make my sore tooshie any worse, so I think I'll take that advice!!!

 

[JT58Bronc]

Mine is definitely not easy to open- the shock damper is pretty strong. I too feel the stud mount of the damper on the tailgate is mounted on thin material and subject to deformation. Mine makes a ticking noise too when it opens. I open it slowly and carefully as a result. I thought about removing the damper but don't want it to swing wildly open either.

 

[Nibroc99]

Mine is definitely not easy to open- the shock damper is pretty strong. I too feel the stud mount of the damper on the tailgate is mounted on thin material and subject to deformation. Mine makes a ticking noise too when it opens. I open it slowly and carefully as a result. I thought about removing the damper but don't want it to swing wildly open either.

I actually tried taking mine off (rather easy to do luckily) and it just definitely does need the control of something. Even a stepped hinge like what the doors have would be fine.
This feels like a blasphemous question... But how does Jeep have their swing gates?
Well, to answer my own question, they use a check "cable" (actually a curved bar of metal) just like most doors use. So... I wonder if anyone's retrofitted one of those onto a bronco swing gate. With my luck, I'd do it myself and I'd start getting Mopar style electrical problems. LOL

 

[Brian_B]

Gotcha, maybe I'll have to just try using more force on it and being ready for when it fights back. It certainly creaks a bit when I push harder on it which just makes me nervous about the mounting point of the strut on the swing gate. Looks like it's just on the sheet metal which could stress over time and fracture, unless there's a hidden thicker plate inside that I don't see. Good to know I'm not alone in this though.

There is a re-enforcement available for the tailgate side - usually sold as a "limiter", but it greatly increases the strength of the mount on the tailgate. It worried me too, since it's just that ball joint on a bolt and that's it on the tailgate. I have a Mountains2Metal one that has worked out well for me, not sure if I ~needed~ it or not, especially since it seems anytime I have ~needed~ it the damn strut just falls off and the tailgate does what it's gonna do anyway (no fault of the limiter, entirely a bad strut), but I feel better having it on there.

@popo_patty had a good video about one around here somewhere.

I haven't heard of anyone damaging the mount on the vehicle side yet, it's at least held on with a couple of bolts.

 

[Nibroc99]

There is a re-enforcement available for the tailgate side - usually sold as a "limiter", but it greatly increases the strength of the mount on the tailgate. It worried me too, since it's just that ball joint on a bolt and that's it on the tailgate. I have a Mountains2Metal one that has worked out well for me, not sure if I ~needed~ it or not, especially since it seems anytime I have ~needed~ it the damn strut just falls off and the tailgate does what it's gonna do anyway (no fault of the limiter, entirely a bad strut), but I feel better having it on there.

@popo_patty had a good video about one around here somewhere.

I haven't heard of anyone damaging the mount on the vehicle side yet, it's at least held on with a couple of bolts.

Yeah, on the vehicle side the mount seems a bit more skookum, as it's a thicker plate/bar of metal. Seems like on the gate side it'd be easy enough to bolt on a couple of plates around the area to sandwich where the ball joint bolt is, if it needed some reinforcement. But in any case, I've thought about getting those rubber stoppers for the hinges to replace the damper. Maybe that'd be a good option for the time being? I'd just have to see how I like it vs the piston though.

 

[battering ram]

When a door knocks you over it might be time to work out and bulk up

it’s hard to open.

don’t let your bronco beat you up

 

[Nibroc99]

When a door knocks you over it might be time to work out and bulk up

it’s hard to open.

don’t let your bronco beat you up

Ya know, I weigh about 210, deadlift a max of 465 so far, and I still don't recognize that I'm but a tiny, puny human next to this bucking bronco. I guess I got bucked for the first time today...

 

[battering ram]

I figured you were a buck 20 twig boy

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