Tailgate problem

[15 Z71]

I have a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 with a the easy lift and lower tailgate. My problem is when I open it it's real hard to pull down and push up. If I open it halfway it just stays there and wont go down. Sometimes I do hear a pop or binding sound. Any thing I can lube/grease or check? It has always worked great until now. Thanks.

[rav3]

44 minutes ago, 15 Z71 said:

I have a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 with a the easy lift and lower tailgate. My problem is when I open it it's real hard to pull down and push up. If I open it halfway it just stays there and wont go down. Sometimes I do hear a pop or binding sound. Any thing I can lube/grease or check? It has always worked great until now. Thanks.

See if this video might help. Not sure if it's what's causing your issue but worth looking at.

 

2015 GMC Sierra Tailgate bushing issue

[15 Z71]

52 minutes ago, rav3 said:

See if this video might help. Not sure if it's what's causing your issue but worth looking at.

 

2015 GMC Sierra Tailgate bushing issue

I did watch that video. I guess I will try and take it off and look at that bushing. I thought when that wore out it dropped real fast? Thats why I'm confused why it's so hard to pen and close.

[rav3]

15 minutes ago, 15 Z71 said:

I did watch that video. I guess I will try and take it off and look at that bushing. I thought when that wore out it dropped real fast? Thats why I'm confused why it's so hard to pen and close.

The bushing doesn't have anything to do with the ease of opening or closing, I don't think. But it might be part of you problem concerning the HARD up & down. Maybe not.

[kickass audio]

I would double check that bushing area. In my case I had the lift gate start to become super easy to drop and it would drop fast and bounce once it hit the cable limits. I had loaded up the bushing on the passenger side with silicone lube (the squeeze type of lube not spray) and then used spray silicone lubricant to spray the death out of the drivers side where the rod comes out of the tailgate and reinstalled the tailgate.

 

It was slower to lower but a tiny bit harder to raise the tailgate up. I then had went to drive on the beaches at Outer Banks and it managed to get some sand to cake up on the silicone lubricant I packed in on the passenger side bushing. It moved fine but this winter when it was really cold the tailgate was extremely hard to open up and close. I cleaned out the passenger bushing again and it is working like new again.

 

Edit: I also had unbolted the passenger bushing assembly from the truck and sprayed silicone lube on the area behind and inside of the oval turn key to help it move easily. You will need to remove the passenger taillight if you choose to go this route. If I remember correctly you will also need a wrench to hold the one nut on the back side while you unbolt the torx screw on the other side.

 

So really just double check that your passenger side bushing is not cracked and if it isn't cracked proceed with cleaning the bushing and the cavity where it is inserted into and then spread some silicone lube on the bushing and inside of the cavity on the passenger side, then spray the black bushing on the drivers side of the tailgate and it should help you out.

Edited December 28, 2020 by kickass audio

[JimCost2014]

2 body styles ago, but same inner workings as the K2. If it is sticking, I would think your torque rod has come loose, or is binding on something inside the gate.

When the bushing (on the passengers side) breaks, the gate just flops down without resistance. 

 

 

Edited January 12, 2021 by JimCost2014

[Connor Stauffer]

I've had issues with my tailgate on my 2014 GMC Sierra. My tailgate pulls so hard I feel like I'm always going to break it. Well one day it happened so I replaced it. Well the new one installed really didn't fix the issue. I'm not sure if it's an issue with the tailgate rods or what it is. If anyone has advice, I would love to hear it.

[GMCustomerService]

On 6/22/2024 at 4:29 PM, Connor Stauffer said:

I've had issues with my tailgate on my 2014 GMC Sierra. My tailgate pulls so hard I feel like I'm always going to break it. Well one day it happened so I replaced it. Well the new one installed really didn't fix the issue. I'm not sure if it's an issue with the tailgate rods or what it is. If anyone has advice, I would love to hear it.

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