PSA Cheap Effective Mod: Tailgate Pin Reinforcement

[Neps]

Great advice. I just ordered mine. Just waiting for the shop to say, “Due to unexpected orders of something we made for ourselves as kind of a one-off, please wait longer for shipment.”

I can wait as long as they don't start talking about "Bespoke Parts"

Sponsored

 

[Lifeliberty]

No issue with the pin and plate moving inboard roughly 1/8" however It was a bit tedious getting everything back to their original location. The pin and latch plate have captive nuts attached to the backing plate which is anchored/located by the two painted bolts. Once the painted bolts are loose the backing plate has quit a bit of movement. Remove the top painted bolt but leave the bottom painted bolt in place to hold the backing plate. Install the top painted bolt through the reinforcement plate to hold the backing plate from dropping out then you can remove the bottom painted bolt and reinstall through the reinforcement plate...then install the latch and pin. I took several random measures to get the painted bolts back to their original position. Whole process took about 20 minutes.

Followed your instructions today, thanks. I was worried about the backing plate, then I read your instructions, very straightforward.

I measured, but not extensively. I did however outline the bolts and striker with a sharpie in case it got fubared. Also made crosshair marks around the original bolt location, so i could line up once the plate covered my original bolt sharpie marks.

Took about 15 minutes. Closes better now for some reason, smoother.

I also painted mine. Wasnt sure of material, stainless or not

 

[IwannaGOfast]

I also painted mine. Wasnt sure of material, stainless or not

I actually emailed them after receiving mine, as I wasn't sure what the material was and didn't want to handle them too much if it was raw steel. He confirmed they are 304 stainless steel.

After seeing your post earlier today I went back to the the BAMF website and noticed that they now have two options listed for the finish:

• Raw blasted Stainless Steel
• Powder coated matte black (+$10.00)

I actually wish this would have been an option, because I probably would have opted for the powder coat.

 

[Lifeliberty]

I actually emailed them after receiving mine, as I wasn't sure what the material was and didn't want to handle them too much if it was raw steel. He confirmed they are 304 stainless steel.

After seeing your post earlier today I went back to the the BAMF website and noticed that they now have two options listed for the finish:

• Raw blasted Stainless Steel
• Powder coated matte black (+$10.00)

I actually wish this would have been an option, because I probably would have opted for the powder coat.

Cool! I haven't been back to the site in a while.
I may later buy some body color spray for it.
The only other thing I did while prepping was file off a couple metal barbs that could have scratched my paint, just left over finishing.. then sanded the edges

 

[PWillette]

Followed your instructions today, thanks. I was worried about the backing plate, then I read your instructions, very straightforward.

I measured, but not extensively. I did however outline the bolts and striker with a sharpie in case it got fubared. Also made crosshair marks around the original bolt location, so i could line up once the plate covered my original bolt sharpie marks.

Took about 15 minutes. Closes better now for some reason, smoother.

I also painted mine. Wasnt sure of material, stainless or not

Yep, 304 stainless. It matched close enough to the iconic silver I didn't bother with any paint.

 

[GA2Dr]

How did you break the painted T30 bolts loose without stripping them? I completely stripped the top one trying to loosen it. Guess this project is on indefinite hold now...

 

[Brian_B]

How did you break the painted T30 bolts loose without stripping them? I completely stripped the top one trying to loosen it. Guess this project is on indefinite hold now...

I had the same thing happen to mine a while back. I broke a bunch of Torx bits and ended up getting a bolt extractor and drilling out and replacing the bolts. They kinda look better unpainted anyway

 

[GA2Dr]

Well that makes me feel better that I'm not the only one. I had a DeWalt extender on and when I took it off I realized it sheared the extender too. Sheesh!

 

[Draughon]

Did the exact same thing and gave up. Guess I'll drill them out and pull em and get new bolts.

I had the same thing happen to mine a while back. I broke a bunch of Torx bits and ended up getting a bolt extractor and drilling out and replacing the bolts. They kinda look better unpainted anyway

 

[Brian_B]

Well that makes me feel better that I'm not the only one. I had a DeWalt extender on and when I took it off I realized it sheared the extender too. Sheesh!

Yeah those things were no joke stuck on mine too.

Harbor freight extractor got em out alright tho. Had to step up a couple sizes

 

[CalvinT]

Were you using regular Torx (T30) or Torx Plus (IP30) wrenches?

Those screws are IP30, metric 10.9 (about the same as SAE grade 8) That means the factory probably really tightened them down.

A T30 maxes out at 37.4 Nm of torque. The minimum rating for a IP30 wrench is 47.2 Nm.

Almost all the fasteners in a Bronco are Torx Plus, not Torx. If you take a careful look, the tools that came with your Bronco are Torx Plus.

https://web.archive.org/web/20200809132603/http://www.acument.com/pdfs/Catalog_TORX_PLUS_DS.pdf

 

[GA2Dr]

I used the T30 that came in the factory Bronco tool kit because it was a better fit than the regular T30 bit I had. Likely for the reason you said - didn't realize the difference.

 

[Draughon]

I did the same and snapped it off at the bit. Then used a torx plus and stripped out the bolt. Figured that was my hint not to continue.

I used the T30 that came in the factory Bronco tool kit because it was a better fit than the regular T30 bit I had. Likely for the reason you said - didn't realize the difference.

 

[Brian_B]

The minimum rating for a IP30 wrench is 47.2 Nm.

That’s like … 35 ft lbs. I have to have Google do my math for me. So it’s something north of that. Way north for some of us.

I broke bits with an 18” ratchet — yeah they were on there good.

 

[Lifeliberty]

I removed the latch and pin first to take some pressure off, then broke the bolts . Then made sure i was pushing on the bolt to break the paint loose. Had no trouble with hands tools. I forget if it was T or TP

Sponsored