Tailgate Alignment Bolt Torque

[SRT Estrella]

i just noticed how much my tailgate was misaligned and it’s REALLY messing w/ my OCD also because I park it outside and I REALLY dnt want any spiders to come inside since I had the rolltrac cover and bedrug installed. I have a slight phobia lol

Anyways is the washer a permanent fix? I want to do this asap and hope I dnt need to bring it into the dealer or body shop. Does the bolt have to come all the way out to make the adjustment and slide over?

 

[SRT Estrella]

You can watch the video below but all you need to do is loosen the bolt that you take out to remove the tailgate. After that you can move the tailgate in the direction you need to close the gap on. It took a bit of effort to break the tailgate loose. I pushed in the direction I needed it to go while hitting the hinge bolt with a rubber mallet. There must be paint that needs to break loose. Mine is perfectly centered now.

Do you have a before and after pic of how much it was misaligned? Need to fix mine and want to do it asap. I seen ppl using a washer for a permanent fix and wanted to see if it’s a must use to prevent it from getting misaligned after fixing it.

 

[RHONC]

i just noticed how much my tailgate was misaligned and it’s REALLY messing w/ my OCD also because I park it outside and I REALLY dnt want any spiders to come inside since I had the rolltrac cover and bedrug installed. I have a slight phobia lol

Anyways is the washer a permanent fix? I want to do this asap and hope I dnt need to bring it into the dealer or body shop. Does the bolt have to come all the way out to make the adjustment and slide over?

add the washer (see my post in older thread). It permanently solves the problem.

 

[OldSchool]

i just noticed how much my tailgate was misaligned and it’s REALLY messing w/ my OCD also because I park it outside and I REALLY dnt want any spiders to come inside since I had the rolltrac cover and bedrug installed. I have a slight phobia lol

Anyways is the washer a permanent fix? I want to do this asap and hope I dnt need to bring it into the dealer or body shop. Does the bolt have to come all the way out to make the adjustment and slide over?

Mine was the same way. Amazing that they can let so many poorly aligned tailgates and other body panels pass QC, my front fenders to the hood alignments by the A-pillar were ridiculously out of whack.

 

[SRT Estrella]

Mine was the same way. Amazing that they can let so many poorly aligned tailgates and other body panels pass QC, my front fenders to the hood alignments by the A-pillar were ridiculously out of whack.

How did u get the tailgate aligned?

 

[eltaco]

Does anyone have dimensions for the washer? I’d like to 3D print one, but I am going to run out of free hands to pull the tailgate and hold it while I measure the area for the washer placement. I’m looking for diameter and thickness measurements if anyone has them.

 

[OldSchool]

How did u get the tailgate aligned?

Just go back in this thread or search it on this forum, there are several threads on it. You just need to loosen the locking bolt, adjust the side to side (some use a washer/spacer), and then reinstall the locking bolt. Be careful not to chip your paint when breaking the tailgate loose, I recommend putting some tape on both sides of the tailgate or bedsides to prevent accidentally damaging it. It's not hard.

 

[SRT Estrella]

Just go back in this thread or search it on this forum, there are several threads on it. You just need to loosen the locking bolt, adjust the side to side (some use a washer/spacer), and then reinstall the locking bolt. Be careful not to chip your paint when breaking the tailgate loose, I recommend putting some tape on both sides of the tailgate or bedsides to prevent accidentally damaging it. It's not hard.

Did u need to unplug the connectors? Also were u able to shift the tailgate by yourself or you needed another person?

 

[OldSchool]

Did u need to unplug the connectors? Also were u able to shift the tailgate by yourself or you needed another person?

Did it by myself, didn't need to disconnect the connector. Used a plastic dead-blow hammer and a phenolic prybar, but I taped of the left edge of the tailgate and bedside.

 

[RHONC]

If remove the bolt, and lift the tailgate like you are going to close it (about 80% of the way) it will slide left or right very easy.