TJ tailgate stiff to open and close

XJDave · 03-29-2003, 04:42 PM

My Girlfriends TJ has an extremely stiff tailgate on it. She bought it used, and its been like that since she bought it. Its a 97, with a stock spare. I have little to no experiance with TJs and have never seen this before. Searching doesn't seem to help much, but I can't believe that this is that rare of a problem. I have tried lubricating the pins with different penetrating oils, with no results. I'm about to knock the pins out, but before I do that, I wondered if anyone else had seen this before.

Thanks in advance.
-Dave [img]graemlins/icon_beerchug.gif[/img]

XJDave · 03-29-2003, 09:51 PM

btt

Anybody? Any ideas at all would be helpful.

Thanks,
-Dave

xjnick · 03-29-2003, 09:58 PM

um, lube it.....

take it off and put some grease in all the joints.....

XJDave · 03-30-2003, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by xjnick:
um, lube it.....

Yeah, its on with pins, and I would rather not knock them out if I don't have to. But it looks like thats the route Im going to have to go down.

-Dave

97XJ_95YJ · 03-30-2003, 08:39 AM

Is there any damage to the back of the Jeep? Or could there have been at one time? Look around the tailgate rubber seal and see if there are any gaps. If so, then it might have been damaged at one time and the hinges are a little twisted. [img]graemlins/iono.gif[/img]

MiguelXJ · 03-30-2003, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 97XJ_95YJ:
Is there any damage to the back of the Jeep? Or could there have been at one time? Look around the tailgate rubber seal and see if there are any gaps. If so, then it might have been damaged at one time and the hinges are a little twisted. [img]graemlins/iono.gif[/img]

this would be my opinion too

try to find any difference between colors in the body... the hinges are proly a bit twisted. Do you ear some kinda bad noise coming from there? (prolly not or you would post it, right?

)

my 2c.

XJDave · 03-30-2003, 11:19 PM

Thanks for the help guys, I hadn't thought about a wreck, but that could very well be it. I will check things out this week and make a post with a fix later.

-Dave

scott hougland · 11-11-2003, 08:21 AM

Dave, did you ever figure out what was wrong with your tailgate? I have a 97 with a 31" spare and am haveing the same problem.

Thanks,
Scott

03-29-2003, 04:42 PM	#1
XJDave Jeeper Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 85	My Girlfriends TJ has an extremely stiff tailgate on it. She bought it used, and its been like that since she bought it. Its a 97, with a stock spare. I have little to no experiance with TJs and have never seen this before. Searching doesn't seem to help much, but I can't believe that this is that rare of a problem. I have tried lubricating the pins with different penetrating oils, with no results. I'm about to knock the pins out, but before I do that, I wondered if anyone else had seen this before. Thanks in advance. -Dave [img]graemlins/icon_beerchug.gif[/img] __________________ My XJ? Yeah, its like a wrangler, only I can haul stuff.<br />--------------------

03-29-2003, 09:51 PM	#2
XJDave Jeeper Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 85	btt Anybody? Any ideas at all would be helpful. Thanks, -Dave __________________ My XJ? Yeah, its like a wrangler, only I can haul stuff.<br />--------------------

03-29-2003, 09:58 PM	#3
xjnick Trail Guide Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: edmonton,alberta Posts: 1,298	um, lube it..... take it off and put some grease in all the joints..... __________________ I am the most hillbilly redneck sum ***** around! - nate spear

03-30-2003, 08:39 AM	#5
97XJ_95YJ Trail Guide Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Lock Haven, PA Posts: 5,763	Is there any damage to the back of the Jeep? Or could there have been at one time? Look around the tailgate rubber seal and see if there are any gaps. If so, then it might have been damaged at one time and the hinges are a little twisted. [img]graemlins/iono.gif[/img] __________________ The Jeep Family: 2007 JK Unlimited - new daily driver 2001 WJ - sister's daily driver 1997 XJ - old daily driver sold 1995 YJ - former trail rig sold 1979 CJ5 - dad's toy 1946 CJ2A - my never ending project 1966 M416 - the jeep trailer

03-30-2003, 11:19 PM	#7
XJDave Jeeper Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 85	Thanks for the help guys, I hadn't thought about a wreck, but that could very well be it. I will check things out this week and make a post with a fix later. -Dave __________________ My XJ? Yeah, its like a wrangler, only I can haul stuff.<br />--------------------

11-11-2003, 08:21 AM	#8
scott hougland Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Seymour, IN Posts: 19	Dave, did you ever figure out what was wrong with your tailgate? I have a 97 with a 31" spare and am haveing the same problem. Thanks, Scott