Tailgate dampener failure?

[Pryme]

So the last couple days I’ve noticed a bit of a creaking crunchy type sound in the dampened bushing area on the passenger side. Tailgate drops with not much slowing. From what I’ve read on google, it’s common. Lovely. Less than a year old and 5k easy miles and the dampener set up is failing? 
 

anyone else come across this?

[Pryme]

So my bushing is not faulty. I pulled the tailgate and the creaking was coming from the part that the bushing fits into. These trucks sure are dry. I cleaned the bushing(it wasn’t really dirty) and used dry graphite lube as it won’t attract dirt and lubed that assembly. 
 

it seems to be working well again. 
 

the assembly I circled was creaking and clacking. 

[Jettech1]

You da man, thank you posting this because I'm sure most of us will experience the same thing at some point and because of you we know the fix for it!!  Thank you for this!