18 Silverado tailgate too far right. Off-center

[defftonez]

How's it going everyone I'm having an issue I don't know how long it's been like that but I noticed that my tailgate is off center I have an 8th inch gap on the right in about a quarter inch to 5/16 on the left... I do not work the truck the most I do is pull a pop up or put my kayaks in the back. Does anybody know what would cause this or is there an adjustment of some sort. Thank you I appreciate any help

[JimCost2014]

1 hour ago, defftonez said:

How's it going everyone I'm having an issue I don't know how long it's been like that but I noticed that my tailgate is off center I have an 8th inch gap on the right in about a quarter inch to 5/16 on the left... I do not work the truck the most I do is pull a pop up or put my kayaks in the back. Does anybody know what would cause this or is there an adjustment of some sort. Thank you I appreciate any help

Welcome to the site.

 

How about some pictures with the gate up (showing the gaps) and down with some of the hardware (hinges, strike bolts) shown.

Edited August 31, 2021 by JimCost2014

[defftonez]

Hey sorry I didn't think about that... I never hit anything or anything like that... To be honest I may have just noticed. But since I have it's driving me crazy. And thank you I appreciate it

[defftonez]

[JimCost2014]

3 hours ago, defftonez said:

Yea, it is off.

Checked mine, pretty close to exact on both sides.

 

It just does not look right on the passengers side. Does it still drop slowly, or come crashing down.

Wonder if the damper on that side is broken, and the gate has shifted that way? It also looks like the top of the tail gate is lower too (same side).

[defftonez]

Everything functions very normal...even rhe drop speed

[newdude]

Couple possibilities.  

 

- Build variation (sheetmetal at the hinge).  Which would be normal.  You can probably look at brand new ones on the lot and measure them, they will have some slight differences in the gap.  

 

-  Right hinge, the metal its mounted to could be bent inwards and is throwing off the alignment.

 

The only real adjustments to be made would be the position of the strikers.  The hinges are bolted in place and might have some minor up and down adjustments that could be made, but nothing left or right.

 

Here's my gate, 2019 old body.  Measured at the top and at the tail lights.  Sorry for the washout.

 

 

 

 

[defftonez]

Hey thank you for your input it's just weird like I said all the lines line up they're straight they're not out of whack at all the left side just bigger... I was going to ask the dealer if they could do anything when I got my oil changed. Like maybe shim it over but now I don't know if that's a possibility.. and I'm sure some have variations but mine is a solid eighth of an inch. Maybe a little more. And I didn't do anything to it I have no idea man. But I appreciate your help

[diyer2]

Getting it fixed may open a can of worms. I would live with it. 

Put you're efforts into doing maintenance, far more important. 

[WeGone]

Hows the condition of the bushings?

[defftonez]

Disclaimer I am not a mechanic they visually look good to me as you can see in the pictures everything is lined up nothing is misaligned nothing is crooked nothing grinds or shuts funny or opens funny so everything looks good to be honest

[reardiff]

Looks like something has been rubbing on the side down at the bottom?  Hard to tell from the picture angle, maybe it's the cable but from looking at the other pictures it seems like it could be tailgate?

 

[JimCost2014]

3 hours ago, reardiff said:

Looks like something has been rubbing on the side down at the bottom?  Hard to tell from the picture angle, maybe it's the cable but from looking at the other pictures it seems like it could be tailgate?

 

Think it is the cable, just by how long the scratch is.

 

Edited September 1, 2021 by JimCost2014

[JimCost2014]

4 hours ago, defftonez said:

Disclaimer I am not a mechanic they visually look good to me as you can see in the pictures everything is lined up nothing is misaligned nothing is crooked nothing grinds or shuts funny or opens funny so everything looks good to be honest

Have you ever taken the tail gate completely off to have a better look at things?

[defftonez]

No i

have not