2017 3rd Gen Tail Gate "Soft Open" Repair

Over the Fathers day weekend camping trip I kept hearing my tail gate slamming down when the wife and kids were monkeying around my truck.

Googled it today and all the results I found led to replacing the bushing on the right rear hinge. Called the local dealer and they had it in stock. P/N 6614304021.

Installed the bushing by slightly raising the tail gate (from the lowered position) than you can pull the tail gate out of the right side hinge. Replacement is simply releasing the tab, shimmy it out and pop in the new unit.

Well, it didn't fix the problem.

Make a long story short, the Tail gate hinge actually has a dampener that is filled with hydraulic fluid. Mine was leaking.

P/N 6728904010

Remove the bumper. (Don't forget to unplug your Trailer Plug and Rear Camera Plug located behind the bumper.)

After all the bolts are removed there are 2 positioning pins. Shine a flash light up there and you'll see what movement you need to make in order for it to release. This is a royal pain but it'll come off.

Then remove the 3 black plastic tabs that secure a black protective cover and you'll have access to the dampener.

It's held in with one nut.

I wasn't sure if I was suppose to pre-tension it so I gambled and just stuck it on the same way the old unit came off and it works great.

Just thought I'd share this in case anyone is trying to figure it out.

 

interesting

 

Old post but thanks for posting this as I was not sure how the soft open really works. I just had the plastic bushing fail. Easy fix. However wasn't sure what all else was involved. Seeing as there is little activity on this thread leaves me to believe that these rarely fail other than the cheap plastic bushing.

 

I think they actually fail a lot and people just don't fix them. Mine broke within 6 months of getting the truck new and I've just let it be for the last 5 years.

 

I replaced the plastic bushing on mine and didn't do squat so I guess I need to replace the dampener.

Edit: On 2nd thought for $100 I think I'll live with it. It's not that important.

 

Oh wow, okay. Was not sure. I do like the feature. When it fails it's quite annoying as you become very accustomed to the soft opening. I've had a 1992 Toyota pick-up in the past for 14 years and ton of work trucks without soft open. But when you get used to the soft open it's quite nice.

 

I totally agree it's a nice feature, but it wasn't worth the trouble to fix it for me. Like you said I'm also accustomed to letting the tailgate down easy myself and don't have kids or anyone else really messing with it.

 

Just saw your reply. Funny timing. I could have sworn over the last two days my tailgate is dropping a little faster and faster every time I open it. Almost like the hydraulic unit is slowly starting to fail again. I do open my tailgate about 10 times a day or maybe more. I'm also surprised at how heavy it is vs other trucks I've owned.

 

I've seen threads where owners replace the bushing...was not aware of the "Damper."

That looks like a pain in the butt to get to!

I don't open the tailgate that often...like someone said...10Xs a day! lol

P/N 6728904010

 

It's only 10am and I've already opened and closed it twice. It's currently open again.

 

I open it every time I tank up my truck....at half a tank of course.

The damper works fine on mine...I love that it opens ever so slowly!

Also open it when I wash my truck to remove the bed mat that needs scrubbing.