Liftgate strut mount

[RangerX]

On my wife's 92 Sport, one of the mounts tore away that holds the strut on. It's the top mount, here's a pic.

Here's a pic of the other one. Notice the bracket that holds the strut to the hatch. I went to the junkyard to get another bracket, cuz I lost the original , and found one on a 92 that looks like this.

There is a metal strip rivited over the bracket, obviously to reinforce it, and prevent what happened to mine. It was on both struts. Is this a factory fix? It looks to well-done to be a backyard fix. Granted, it got a little mangled when I ripped it out, but the strips are perfectly cut and formed.

Anyone else have these?

 

[tdavis]

Ford recalled all of the lift gates for this problem in the late 90's.

The strapped versions you found is the repair done for the recall.

 

[Darrman]

Yup, my '91 has been welded, my '92 has the recall straps.

 

[RangerX]

Ford recalled all of the lift gates for this problem in the late 90's.

All but mine, I guess.

I'll cut that strip off, and have the bracket welded on.

 

['97 V8]

i wonder, would for honor a rcall from 92?

 

[JStrider]

mine has the riveted on strap

 

[tdavis]

[QUOTE='97 V8]i wonder, would for honor a rcall from 92?[/QUOTE]

That is quite possible.

The recall is NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 95V164001 and there is no expiration date listed.

Another recall that applies is NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 95I007000

and NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 99V310001

 

[thewishkah]

I believe they will, I had this recall done in 04 on my 94 xlt after the hatch smacked me in the head. They tried to tell me that I had to buy new lifts but I said no this is a recall and the lifts work fine do it at no cost.

 

[ma96782]

Yup....mine has the rivits like the last pic....four rivits.

Aloha, Mark

 

[Rhett]

I never looked on mine...I'll have to check

 

[Anime]

Digging up an old thread since this just happened on mine.

Years and years of using the tailgate, and apparently too much tailgate use this summer finally did it in.

It's a hassle having to reattach it and get the same alignment, so had I known it was going, I would have tack welded each of these while they were still firmly attached.

Just a suggestion to all others out there, if they haven't gone yet, they probably will eventually, so it's easier to tack them on for extra security now, rather than deal with the hassle after the fact.

 

[Roadrunner777]

Mine tore out 2 weeks ago, the other side has been welded on! And, I had the exact same problem on the trunk of a Ford Contour about 2 years ago. I do concur, if yours are intact, now is the time... drill some strategic holes and put in some pop rivets.

 

[Anime]

I don't think pop rivets will cut it, since there isn't any way to get big washers behind the mount to spread the load out. Even the recall strap fix only seems to add a few anchor points to rip more of the sheet metal off as pictured.

Tack welds all the way around will let more of the load go to the stronger angled portion of the tailgate. Really the best fix would be a big 1/8" steel bar behind the mount, and two rivets or bolts holding it to the mount. I'm halfway tempted to try pulling the tailgate panel and sliding such a support behind it, using a coat hanger or extendable magnet to hold it behind the mount.

 

[jd4242]

think ill go try and have this done

 

[geosnooker2000]

think ill go try and have this done

You mean, like, get the recall work done at the dealership? Please let us know, because I have needed this to be done on my '93 for about 4 years, but have waited until I got a replacement handle for the back lift gate. Let us know if they put up a fuss about doing it at no cost, because they shouldn't have a problem with making it right. It IS their design flaw. Not ours.

 

[Anime]

Get it done before the tailgate gets painted. It's probably a ton easier to weld with the tailgate off, too. It's a pain welding this upside down with the tailgate up.

 

[jd4242]

tailgate is painted all ready and i checked it and it.has the straps so guess i won't be doing it

 

[Roadrunner777]

I don't think pop rivets will cut it, since there isn't any way to get big washers behind the mount to spread the load out. Even the recall strap fix only seems to add a few anchor points to rip more of the sheet metal off as pictured.

You are correct, just adding pop rivets will tear back out. Here is my approach: I used a transition plate as shown, 2 pop rivets through the plate into the bracket with bracing washers. Then, 6 pop rivets back through the bracket, plate and into the door spread out over about 6 inches.

(Those are 3/16" stainless steel rivets which is overkill and pretty much impossible to 'pop' with a hand tool. That's why they are trimmed off like that.)

 

[ld50]

We brought my wife's first gen in a couple years ago for that recall and they had to install a whole new rear gate, painted to match and everything. I haven't bothered to get mine done...

 

[Louie the Explorer]

Just had the bracket tear off our 1994 explorer yesterday. Repaired with 2 1/4 inch nutserts and stainless screws. Want to purchase the original Lift Gate Reinforcement Kit to strengthen my repair and reinforce the other bracket. Can anyone please tell me the ford part number for this kit?