Tailgate support cables

I replaced my tailgate support cables with some generic Amazon cables. When I close tailgate they stick out like this. I lubed all washers and even swapped left/right to no avail. Is there a break-in period, am I missing a step somewhere or are they just Amazon junk? Thank you

 

Ive had the same issue from purchasing them from a big chain auto parts store. I tuck them back into their home, I go on with my day, and they pop back out. The circle of life continues.

 

Replaced mine with OEM and they initially did the same thing. Take the cable off the tailgate and with a BFH, smack it here. If you still have your original, compare them.

 

What Area51Runner said. It's the bend on the terminal ring.

 

Interesting. My 98 never has the cable stick out but one of my cables in the 04 does.

So I took the one off my 98 and put it on the 04 and what once never stuck out in the 98, now sticks out on the 04.

 

Thanks. That fixed mine.

 

I think you’re 98 cable decided that it doesn’t like the 04

 

Mine does that on the passenger side only. And it is the original part. 28 years old.

 

Mine have done this. I am on my 2nd napa set. What happens is they rub, get rusty after the coating is rubbed off and I sit on it and my fat ass breaks them. lol gonna try to the BFH trick. I usually try and push them back in.

 

I installed new cables every 6 months or so carried spares at all times.

Rookie fork lift drivers dropped weight on the tail gate (cables) all to often.

Just refused to load from the side with a sling .

 

Worked like a charm! Thank you!

 

When I smash TF out of the cable am I trying to flatten out that bend?

 

Nope, just want to straighten it slightly.

This might help give you an idea.



Tailgate in the down position, driver side -

 

Oh so just the tip? (that's what she said)

I'm failing to understand the dynamics but I'm about to go out and try it.

 

Start smacking it here. Doesn’t have to be like you’re breaking concrete, just a good smack with the hammer to try and take a little of the bend out. Again, not a lot, just a little.



Compare it to my earlier pics. Throw it on the tailgate and see if it helps, if not a couple of more taps and check again.

 

Thanks. I'll report back with the carnage that makes it worse.

It's just weird that the cable I took off the 98 that has no issues ended up having issues once I put it on the 04

 

Honestly it's just trial and error. What worked for me may not work for you. When the damn cable kept popping out when it was closed, I started slowly closing it and watching how the cable (where it connects to the tailgate) behaved. It slightly bows outward as it swivels so that's what gave me the idea to smack it a couple of times. It seems to have worked and it hasn't done it since except for once. Initially, when I compared it to my frayed original cables, the new one was bent more. This is what led to breaking out the hammer.

Did you swap out the bolt for the body side? Not sure if that plays into it. My OEM replacement cable came with new bolt/washer/etc. Not sure about aftermarket.