Tailgate Bushing - Keep going bad

FL335i · June 10, 2018

Ok, I'm on my 4th tailgate bushing since I bought my truck in late 2014. This most recent one only lasted about 6-9 months. I keep the tailgate jamb clean. Not sure why this last one went so quickly. Is there something else that needs replaced along with it? Part # of the bushing is 22966936. These things are not cheap either. About $30 a pop. That's $120 in tailgate bushings in less than 4 yrs.

catpartsman · June 10, 2018

Here’s a YouTube video I made that has fixed my issues with this part.

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FL335i · June 10, 2018

Good video. I have not checked this on my truck... doing it tomorrow! Wonder why that piece on the gate is bent. EG- overloading? I don't believe that piece is replaceable, it's part of the tailgate itself. But i will check mine and straighten it out.

catpartsman · June 10, 2018

It’s not replaceable. My dealer told me if it happens again they will replace the tailgate

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FL335i · June 10, 2018

Well turns out my tailgate looked bent just like yours!!! I used a crescent wrench and bent it back. All straight now. I cleaned both the tailgate and receiver piece with WD40 and a rag to ensure it's super clean on both ends. Buying a new bushing today online. Looking at my old broken bushing, it's broke right where the "flared out" piece would be. Thanks for your post and video. Going to give this another try now.

Edited June 10, 2018 by FL335i

txab · June 10, 2018

Wonder what the hinge piece looks like on other's trucks that are not having any problems

FL335i · June 14, 2018

New bushing came in today. Apparently the new GM Part # is 84331136. Lets give this another try...

FL335i · June 16, 2018

Well after a few days of use the bushing is doing well. Tailgate feels great and I really think we found the ROOT CAUSE to the on-going bushing failures. I'm 99% confident the bent piece was the issue. Because with a new bushing, when you "shoved it in", into the receiver piece it probably was causing damage to the bushing so it was downhill from the moment of install. Like I said, after straightening my metal, installing the new bushing.... the tailgate went RIGHT on, super smooth, no shoving and pushing required like in the past.

flyingfool · March 30, 2019

try placing a rad clamp around the pivot to give support to the tailgate hinge?, also helps slow down the tailgate thieves

revrnd · April 29, 2020

Replaced the bushing in January & it failed this month. I'll hold off replacing it as I'm not interested in throwing 40 bucks away every 6 month. I've messaged Dorman suggesting they produce a replacement.

Anyone who thought of using plastic parts in a tailgate (especially in a high load location) obviously has never owned a pickup & used it as a truck, not a grocery getter.

catpartsman · April 29, 2020

Watch my YouTube video describing why these keep breaking. I showed this to my dealer and they corrected the issue and I’ve not had a broken bushing since. The comments on the video all seem to have had the same result.

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flyingfool · April 29, 2020

i think the big fix is aftermarker tailgate shock from a ford f150

catpartsman · April 30, 2020

I’ve got one of those on mine now too.

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Dmax Renegade 1234 · August 14, 2020

On 4/29/2020 at 7:06 PM, catpartsman said:

Watch my YouTube video describing why these keep breaking. I showed this to my dealer and they corrected the issue and I’ve not had a broken bushing since. The comments on the video all seem to have had the same result.

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What exactly did your dealer do to correct the issue? Did they replace the tailgate or just grind or bend the part back to a round shape?

My 2016 2500 has had this issue since new. They've probably replaced it half a dozen times if not more. Last time they replaced the cup that bolts to the truck side that the tailgate sits in along with the bushing. This replacement lasted the longest but not much more than a few weeks or so.