Squeaky Tailgate Damper

[RetiredNotFired]

I installed a damper last weekend and it works great. Yesterday when lowering the tailgate, there was a squeak when it came down. When I installed it, it was nice temperatures, but since then it has gotten colder doing the night and the truck sits in an unheated garage. Is this normal? Will it go away when the weather gets nice again? Is this a "let it break in" kind of thing? Nothing seems to be rubbing or loose.

Thanks in advance.

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[AzScorpion]

It's not the damper it's the bushing on the tailgate mount. Dirt gets trapped in there and it creaks like an old barn door. Just spray some lube in there and it'll be good.

 

[AzScorpion]

its garbage and the warranty is null and void unless you had it installed by a qualified mechanic.

I would just go without.
your physical fitness and health is way more important.

keep using those arms like god intended and stay strong my friend.

Looking at your pencil arms I'd swear you have 2 dampers.

 

[Kodiacnb]

I installed a damper last weekend and it works great. Yesterday when lowering the tailgate, there was a squeak when it came down. When I installed it, it was nice temperatures, but since then it has gotten colder doing the night and the truck sits in an unheated garage. Is this normal? Will it go away when the weather gets nice again? Is this a "let it break in" kind of thing? Nothing seems to be rubbing or loose.

Thanks in advance.

Yes, as AZScorpion says, It is the bushings. I popped the small clips out and shot some lubricant in and the noise is now gone.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Hmmmmm, it started to squeak after the thingamajig was installed. That suggests to me that the thingamajig is causing misalignment that will result in bigger a problem down the road - worn out bushing. Warranty? Hah, no way - “all the mods”. Before anyone suggests two thingamajigs to even things out, it will only result it both sides putting excess pressure on the bushings - both will wear out.

Abandon this project and toss the thingamajig before it becomes catastrophic - if you haven’t received your free t-shirt, it’s still not too late.

 

[RetiredNotFired]

It's not the damper it's the bushing on the tailgate mount. Dirt gets trapped in there and it creaks like an old barn door. Just spray some lube in there and it'll be good.

Thanks. As in where the tailgate attaches to the bed/body?

 

[AzScorpion]

Thanks. As in where the tailgate attaches to the bed/body?

Yes on the left and right sides you'll see a sleeve where it attaches to the side of the bed. Spray a few shots in there, move it up and down (if you have the strength now lol) and it should go aways.

We have a lot of dust here and when it rains mine will do this. It was most likely the condensation that caused it.

 

[AzScorpion]

Thanks. As in where the tailgate attaches to the bed/body?

Yes on the left and right sides you'll see a sleeve where it attaches to the side of the bed. Spray a few shots in there, move it up and down (if you have the strength now lol) and it should go aways.

We have a lot of dust here and when it rains mine will do this. It was most likely the condensation that caused it.

 

[AzScorpion]

This took the squeak out for me...

Paul, try this stuff. It works much better than WD-40 and lasts a lot longer too.

 

[subquark]

The squeak will also go away if you drink a few more beers. =D

 

[OrangeStreak]

Paul, try this stuff. It works much better than WD-40 and lasts a lot longer too.

Thanks for the tip Dave, I have a can of this to lube the garage door...

 

[AzScorpion]

Thanks for the tip Dave, I have a can of this to lube the garage door...

With all the dust we have here this stuff seems to really work the best. I also use it to lube the window tracks in my house as the slides tend to stick from all the dust.

 

[OrangeStreak]

With all the dust we have here this stuff seems to really work the best. I also use it to lube the window tracks in my house as the slides tend to stick from all the dust.

We have a lot of blowing dust too. Blaster will probably drip less and stick better with the silicone base than WD-40.

 

[Danager]

its garbage and the warranty is null and void unless you had it installed by a qualified mechanic.

I would just go without.
your physical fitness and health is way more important.

keep using those arms like god intended and stay strong my friend.

My son is a heavy duty mechanic. He said he wouldn’t install it unless it was painted yellow and had hydraulic lines leading to it.

I put it on myself and now that squeak you speak of sounds like somebody slowly letting the air out of a balloon.

 

[OrangeStreak]

Yes on the left and right sides you'll see a sleeve where it attaches to the side of the bed. Spray a few shots in there, move it up and down (if you have the strength now lol) and it should go aways.

We have a lot of dust here and when it rains mine will do this. It was most likely the condensation that caused it.

If the atrophy is too severe, have a neighbor to spray it in...

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