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Tailgate bolt stripped/rusted, what should I do?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by YotaBro, Nov 10, 2022.

  1. Nov 10, 2022 at 12:54 PM
    #1
    YotaBro

    YotaBro [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Went to tighten the bolt on one side of the tailgate and it wouldn't budge, and then boom, it just started to spin freely and the threads won't grab. Thinking it might be stripped from the inside? Do I have to get new threads tapped into the bed?

    Video and pics for reference:

    https://imgur.com/a/APtQldn

    IMG_2867.jpg IMG_2868.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2022
  2. Nov 10, 2022 at 1:01 PM
    #2
    Andy01DblCabTacoma

    Andy01DblCabTacoma Well-Known Member

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    I think the nut on the backside of that is tack welded to the body. Pop the light off and see what you're up against.
     
    Area51Runner and YotaBro[OP] like this.
  3. Dec 6, 2022 at 5:09 PM
    #3
    Balmzach

    Balmzach New Member

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    Im Having this same problem, that nut is tack welded. If you take the tail light out you can look down and see the back side of it. Its a bitch to grind that nut off if you have to so be very careful.
     
  4. Dec 6, 2022 at 7:09 PM
    #4
    YotaBro

    YotaBro [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I took the tail light off and my nut wasn't even connected to the body, so the weld must not have been very good. Just replaced it with a new nut and bolt
     
    Bivouac likes this.
  5. Dec 7, 2022 at 7:54 AM
    #5
    Andy01DblCabTacoma

    Andy01DblCabTacoma Well-Known Member

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    F: Kings SPC, R: 5100s+J59s. Custom armor.
    It's a tack weld to keep the nut from spinning, not a full structural weld.
     

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