Tailgate Rattle Fix?

[tx1ton]

I'm getting a terrible rattle/banging/clanging noise on every little bump that I believe is the tailgate supports smacking around. Anyone have this problem and find a solution? I've tried wrapping them in rubber sheeting but I still get some noise - it's less but it still sounds like the EB's about to self destruct on bumps...

%)

 

[MKD]

Wasn't this one of the advertised features of this vehicle? ;D Seriously, it's 30+ years of wear and tear on the latches themselves along with other rattling parts, but mostly the latches. Several of the parts suppliers have them but they aren't cheap and I've heard of one temporary solution being to use sectioned bicyle innertube on them. Given that there's considerable flexing going on back there, replacement of the noisy parts may not be the final solution. My dad, who bought my truck new in 1968, says there has always been some sort of rattle coming from back there. You'll never be able to stop them all. I've pretty much learned to live with it, telling myself, "Whaddya expect? It's a truck."

 

[Gummi Bear]

Check the hinges for the spare tire rack also. If it is the stock one, the pivot pins wear down and rattle something awful. I had mine turned down at a machine shop, and they made me some nylon bushings that fill the void. Made a humongous difference.

BTW - What was your email again, I promised you a ton of links, and forgot to send them.

 

[lars]

Believe it or not, it's possible to de-rattle a tailgate, and even a lift gate. Mine are both quiet. Lots of stubbornness though.

I took everything apart, replaced all the rubber seals. I cut some discs out of some 1/8" neoprene sheet and stuffed them in the sockets of the tailgate pivots and greased them up before reassembling. I wrapped the latch rods in the tailgate with some thinner neoprene and some electrical tape to dampen vibration. My tailgate is sprayed with Line-X. All the catches are greased. If you have the stock spare tire carrier, lose it and buy a Protofab or equivalent bumper with spare tire mount, or make your own.

 

[76Broncofromhell]

Get some foam rubber sheets that are about 5/8's of an inch thick and stuff them in the tailgate holes. Usually it's the latch handle or the linkage bouncing up and down, so some foam rubber will insulate it

 

[broncolove]

going with cables off a ford ranger, instead of the straps works good too

 

[tx1ton]

Hey, great info and tips - will probably try them all! Looking through Duff's catalog it became obvious to me that I also am just plain lacking a bunch of the little rubber doohickies that are intended to cushion at least some of the parts from doing this in the first place...being a new EB owner sure is fun, you get to learn what all those holes were supposed to have in them! %)

I don't have the spare tire rack mounted now either so that one's pretty much eliminated...I do have the rack but don't plan on re-mounting it as I'll be going with a new rear bumper and off road tire mount (yep, a whole new set of rattles to create!).

Oh yeah, my email for those that would like to send me more info is tx1ton@yahoo.com

Feel free to send links, pics, etc, I'll read it all!
;D

 

[broncnaz]

New seals works good and adjusting the lower pivot mounts helps to quited downto almost nothing except on the big bumps

 

[70bucks]

going with cables off a ford ranger, instead of the straps works good too

I've thought about the cable route also, but never took the time to measure the steel straps and go shopping. What year of Ranger cables work?

 

[broncolove]

Got mine off a 91, but I am sure many other years will work. It really makes a differance, No rattles what so ever.

 

[Mikey]

You didn't say if you had a hard top on it. If so, there is a small tab on the tail gate that fits into the lift gate (anti-theft tab). It's suppposed to have a rubber sleeve on it. Try duct tape to confirm that is your rattle, then pay the $1 or so for a new sleeve. Without the sleeve, it sounds like the whole rear end is rattling around back there!

Good luck,
Mikey

 

[tx1ton]

Hard top...and to be honest I cannot recall seeing the anti-theft bar... so is it possible it dropped into the tailgate and is rattling around?!?!? I'll have to take a gander when I get home (EB sits in garage while I work on PS upgrade)

I like the cable idea, sound good. Also the rubber fill for tailgate - all excellent ideas.

I'll probably do/try them all!

 

[broncnaz]

the bar he's talking about bolts to the outside of the tailgate on the interior theres no way for it to fall in unless you have a rust bucket. you would Know if its there it sticks up about an inch or so and there will be a small squre cut out in the hard to that it rides in.

 

[tx1ton]

Nope, not a rust bucket, but also not there! ?:?

 

[rayc]

Whoever you bought your EB from must have taken the little anti-theft thingy off. I take mine off when I am running my soft top. Another thing that may quiet things down is to put the aftermarket lift shock/struts on the lift gate to replace the metal supports. I have the hood struts, which work great, and am planning on getting the lift gate struts soon.