issue Tailgate cables different lengths

[M1Tanker]

Mine are so far off that lengthening the hole would do no good.

 

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[GMC-AT]

ok.. I re read the post above about grinding the cable... I thought initially they were talking about grinding something on the tailgate itself (which I will not do)

 

Anyway, I did go back and grind some material off the shorter cable using a Dremel and little round grinding stone. It worked great. Only took about 1/8 material off the cable end (if that) where the hole is at the end. a little bit does goes a long way. Cables are now much better... both pretty much equal.

[mdmischief]

Can someone post the overall length of the cables as well as the distance between the bolt slots? I'm wondering if they might be the same length as other trucks such as the Canyon/Colorado with their multiple adjustment points.

[M1Tanker]

I think the cables are 17.5"...not sure about anchor questions.

 

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[bigbill3111]

I just found this forum while looking for complaints about the tailgate cables. I just ordered and bought a new 2015 Chevy Silverado LTZ 2500 HD 4x4. I opened the tailgate and noticed as several of you have, that one cable, ( the one on the right ), had slack in it and the left side was tight. I sat my 200 lb butt on the tailgate and still slack on the right side. I was VERY concerned. I mean, this truck cost a LOT. The basic definition of a pickup is that it has a bed and a tailgate. I was thinking about loading a 600 lb ATV into the back with ramps. It would have to bend a considerable amount. SOOOOO, I took it back to the dealer and showed them the problem. Guess what boys and girls, it is not defective cable lengths. The service department was amazed, so we started robbing cables off other trucks, also swapped the original cables to opposite sides, AND eventually even got brand new cables in the package out of the parts room. They all did the same thing on the same side, no matter what combination or cable you used. The truck bed or tailgate is the problem. Not close enough tolerance in the manufacturing process. This can account for different trucks that we tried on the lot to be not as bad as others even trying the same cables. One of the technicians finally walked out and gave me a copy of a service bulletin saying that some slack was OK and this was normal tolerance in the manufacturing process. Uhhhhhh.........I don't think so. I am going to contact Chev. Monday, and see what they say. I know the truck can't be changed, but they can retrofit a shorter cable or a longer one. Either way, as long as the slack comes out at pretty much the same time. Just ridiculous to have to mess with this.

[pm26]

The real solution to this issue would be an adjustable cable on each side of the tailgate. They could have used a turnbuckle or a small adjustable clevis on one end of each cable. But that cost $ 1 more per cable, so forget it.

[southern_sierra]

My 14 sierra is the same way right cable a little loose if I set on the tailgate it tightens up. My previous truck a tundra was the same way. I think its that way for a reason when enough weight is applied to the tailgate it should take the slack out.

[rocknfire]

All manufacturers have the same issue. No big deal.

[jonboy77]

good insight... but in the end there is no way I'm taking a die grinder to my new 45K truck....for anything.

I just bought a 2015 GMC SLT. Picked it up from the dealer. She is beautiful. The ONLY problem I have found so far is the slop in one of the tailgate straps. I have measured and re-measured them and I do not think it is a different leagth strap like others have mentioned. But I TOTALLY AGREE i am not taking a grinding to ANYTHING on my new truck...lol

[Raiderse]

I just noticed there is indeed a bulletin on this today. It indicates it is normal for only one side to be tensioned with no load on the gate due to normal build variance. It did indicate they should both have tension with a load on the gate. Sounds like the OP had one a bit further out than what is normal.

BULL#$%@! with GMs bulletins. They wave their magic wand and claim every defect to be normal! Clunks , tranny shifting issues etc just a bunch of crap and I'm sure all the issues will be fixed for the 2016's . just their way of not having to pay out to fix the issues on existing vehicles. Just my opinion.

[newdude]

ITS NORMAL. They've been doing this for years. My 2004 did it, 2006, 2012 and 2015. Every single one built does it.

[Raiderse]

Mine are the same

[taps929]

I have one tight and one slack cable here - mine is the passenger side that is slack - brought it to the dealer and they wanted the body shop to move my tailgate around till it fits - but what I noticed is the mounting bolt on the passenger side bed is lower than the drivers side measured from center to center off the locking pin. that would do it.......coss eyed bastards...

[Huntere]

Mine too!

My Driver side cable is really loose. Same size cable but the mounting holes on the tailgate for the cable are not in the same location.

The  loose cable is able to move about 3 inches total from down tight position to up tight position.

 

The passenger side cable is holding all of the weight. I have put over 110 Lbs on the middle of the tailgate to just get the driver side cable tight.

The tight cable on the passenger side causes the tailgate to not sit level with the bed of the truck, kinda scary when I was hauling breakable material that needed that surface area underneath it for support.

 

My biggest worry with this is that it will eventually warp the tailgate and not latch properly on the loose side.

[BillNC]

To all those on this thread with the tailgate issues:  Do you know where your truck was assembled?  Flint, Fort Wayne, Silao Mexico?  (Did I miss any?)

 

My brand new 2018 1500 tailgate is 1-1/8" higher than the bed.