SR & SR5 Tailgate damper/assist/anti-drop/strut install

If you're like me and have a poverty model Tacoma, then it likely didn't come with a damper/strut to slowly lower the tailgate. Here's a write up to help you out.

1) Order parts. These came from Toyota of Dothan for $132.



2)Remove drivers side tail light. Remove the two 10mm bolts. Then pull the taillight assembly away from the vehicle. (It pulls away the same direction the drivers door swings)





3) Thread the Stay Joint into the threaded hole behind the taillight. 12mm end wrench did the trick.



4) Remove tailgate. Google Tacoma tailgate removal. Very easy. The wiring is long enough to remove the tailgate and rest it upright in the middle of the bed (perpendicular to how it's normally attached) I had my wife hold it upright while I did the next step.

5)Remove drivers side tailgate hinge. Using the same bolts, replace with the new T/G end. T40 torque head is required to remove the bolts.





6)Reinstall tailgate. The new tailgate hinge is slotted. The drivers side of the tailgate fits into the new hinge. When reinstalling, be sure to align the hinge and tailgate so the tailgate slides into the slot in the hinge. The hinge is easy to turn to the correct angle.

7)Attach the Tailgate Support assembly(it's a strut). Feed the strut up thru the bottom of the truck. I found it easy to attach the bottom of the strut (the end with the rubber boot) to the hinge first. Then attach the top of the strut to the joint installed in step 3. You may have to close the tailgate then slowly open it to get the strut ends to line up. The ends just push onto the joints. It's pretty easy.





8) Test it. Should work like this...

https://youtube.com/shorts/wh3kmFcdvAg?si=wMGzr4cNoW-sJTZw

Last step) Reinstall the taillight and enjoy! You're one step closer to being one of the cool people...

 

While I already have the damper on my truck, this is pretty neat to see how it's setup!

 

Nice Job !! Thanks ! I have my parts in hand ... just waiting for a good day !!!

8) Test it. Should work like this...

https://youtube.com/shorts/wh3kmFcdvAg?si=wMGzr4cNoW-sJTZw

Last step) Reinstall the taillight and enjoy! You're one step closer to being one of the cool people...[/QUOTE]
Nice Job !!

 

Nice Job !![/QUOTE]

Cool! Hope this helps

 

Fellow poor here, can confirm this works to a T and it’s super easy to do. Hell, while I was in the taillight I routed an extended diff breather as well. You rock for putting a photo instruction up as I was too lazy.

Also looks like Dothan Toyota is doing 25% off sale on parts for the next few days so it might be even cheaper for those interested.

this mod is 10/10 recommended and really easy to do. Also if you finagle it properly you don’t even have to disconnect the tailgate wiring, just removing the plastic bracket that routes it through the back of the gate will give you enough room to lay the tailgate perpendicular in the bed

 

Thank you. You saved me a lots and lots of time. Getting my tools ready this weekend.

 

Received my parts last night, 15 min easy install this morning. Half of tailgate can lay in the bed metal side up and I used a chair back to hold up the other half.
The only issue I had was the tail light removal scraped off a little bit of the crappy thin Underground paint around the trucks light housing outer edge, thanks goodness I already had touch up paint.

 

Yeah. I understand the paint problem. Not a fan of the way they designed the light to pull out on this generation.

 

Thanks for posting this! Will be one of my next mods. Someone should do a youtube tutorial.

 

TACO-TY Did a great write up above. Pics, Parts needed, everything with pics. I've got my stuff in hand but just waiting for a nice day to install

 

I just had my 2017 SR totaled out. It was a fantastic beast with 242,000 miles on it and only had to do regular maintenance on it. I just bought a 2025 SR5 today but was shocked by no tailgate damper on it. My bare bones 2017 had it.
Glad I came across this post as I use the tailgate a lot. Currently shopping the parts and the cost will be about $175.00. I will update my reply once parts are installed.
Thanks!

 

Awesome! It's easy...Check Dothan Toyota they have sales all the time.

 

I think if you shop around you can do better on the OEM prices ... Congrats on your SR5 - Mine 's a lowly SR ...

 

Thanks for the step by step instructions. Got my parts today and installed in a few minutes!

 

I checked a couple well rated dealerships online for the parts and they all come up "will not fit your vehicle" for my 2025. I tried different trims and all said the same. But when I put in 2024 it says it will fit. Was there a change for 2025 that prevents these from fitting?

 

I HIGHLY doubt it. My guess is the parts list isn't updated for the 2025 model year. I'd be shocked if Toyota changed the tailgate workings from 24 to 25...

I had the same problem when searching for OEM splash guards for our 2024 Highlander in January...

 

OK My 2cents, as I have little to prove what I state but I believe this is the same issue .....

First, To answer your questions ... I recently bought a Brandy new 2025 Sonic Red " SR " . I followed and installed the instructions on this thread and it went on easily (See my comments on my install , link below). I fell 99% you will have the correct parts as stated here.


For the Reason Why ??? I think Toyota Corp/Engineering/Design/Marketing/Mexico Mfg/Parts databases, Purchasing, etc. ALL need to get their Crap together.

In Summary, I was trying to add a Tonneau Access cover, bed rug, Mud Guards and a full size spare (and trash the donut spare) to my vehicle right after purchase. The Databases at and from Toyota are suspect, (also leveraged by the Aftermarkets), not updated, and in error on a number of things I found. I'll not ramble with the details.

My Quick thoughts... (to the best of my searching and I MAY BE WRONG) 2024 was the 4th Gen. During the year they made a few changes to the Body? Standard Equipment changes and dealt with Part shortages and mfg. changes. For 2025 these changes migrated over (Including NEW? Frame changes???) and the Databases were lagging... and IMO still are. Even Bedrug and Access covers seem to be hit with bed front bed/ D Ring location/ Tie down rail attachments methods / mounting points/locations. It took 2 ? Months after my vehicle was built and weeks after I bought it off the lot - and the databases would Still not recognize my vin !!! Now MOST databases ( inc. Aftermarket) will accept it - but when looking up parts (i.e. Mudguards) the search results state "May not fit your Vehicle". So, the Dealer, Parts Department, sales etc. do no have the correct info ..... AGAIN JMO at this point.

Good luck with the New Wheels !!!!

SteveC

 

Thanks to the op for an excellent write up. And thanks to others for tips. I just installed mine today. No problems but one due to cheap parts. I had no help available so I used a small adjustable folding table and set it at the same height as the bottom of the tailgate, covered it with a blanket and simply removed the tailgate and set it down looking like an open tailgate except a couple inches away from the bed. I also covered the body around the edges of the tail light with blue painter's tape to prevent chipping paint when the lens was pulled out.

All went well and fast. The only problem was with the upper (green) mounting clip on the body for the tail light. There are the two bolts and then two cup shaped clips for the tail light pins to go into. The bottom one is peach colored and seems like just an alignment clip since the lens pulled out of that one easily and is shaped different from the top one. It's made of better plastic than the top one. The top one (green) is hard thin plastic, holds the peg pretty well and if you look closely after the lens is out you'll see how there's a tiny ramp for the peg to go in then the backside of the ramp is a sharp edge so that when you pull the peg out it is almost surely going to crack the body of the clip, which mine did. I wouldn't have noticed except after many years of aircraft maintenance, I'm cursed with an obsession to check every detail of any work I do. To me it looked like a one time use clip so I figured the dealership would have them in stock, which they did.

My advice is to buy a couple of these to have on hand not only if you're going to do this mod but for later use in case you need to change a bulb. They're only $1.58 The part number is 90467-A0045 Pictured below. The bottom clip if you ever need one is 90467-A0046.

 

Hi, I went to Dothan and those 3 part numbers don’t exist. Is this a kit or individual? Where else can I buy them? Thanks.

 

I bought them at my local dealer. You can buy them at any dealer you want. If you don't like your local dealer check online prices at other dealers. Just do a search for OEM Toyota parts.