Tailgate hinges.

[Andy Sherlock]

Does any one know of any cases of these failing?
The hinges on my 1985 GTL are most definately cracked at the welded joint where they are attached to the gutter/bodywork, both sides. When the tailgate is opened, there is movement at the crack.

I'm off to France in the car again next year and I don't want them failing while I'm there.

Should I get them welded up or do they go on for ever?
Alternatively, is there a bolt on fix?

Best Regards,

Andy.

 

[claude van rouge]

Bad new - yes they can fail it happened to one of our R4s but the good news is that even if they do fail the tailgate will stay shut and not fall off you just can't open it . They will repair with welding, Malcolm repaired ours so he is in a better position to tell you what's involved.

 

[Andy Sherlock]

Thanks,

Malcolm, please can you tell me, breifly, what's involved with this?

Regards,
Andy

 

[malcolm]

It might just be a crack in the sealant. The first photo has a hinge that looks bad, but I believe it's just the sealant that has cracked. It'll be letting water into the joint which will make the hinge mounting crack, so to repair the sealant and rust would be scraped away with a screwdriver, a good primer then polyurethane sealant, then body colour would make it better.



When rust finds it's way in the hinge can crack. This one has been welded to the edge of the roof which works OK.



If it is just a sealant crack then after resealing you might reduce the stress on the hinges by spraying lubricant at the pivot - in the centre section of the hinge.

 

[Andy Sherlock]

Thanks very much for the info and giving the time to take these photo's.
I will have a poke and a scrape at the hinges just as soon as I can, and then make some decisions based on what I find.

Did you drop the plastic roof liner inside in order that the heat from the weld did not melt it?

 

[malcolm]

I didn't remove the liner when I did mine. It's far enough away if you are careful (and use MIG welding rather than oxy).

 

[Andy Sherlock]

Thanks,
If welding is required it will be TIG, so I'll probably drop the back end of the liner just in case.

 

[Andy Sherlock]

Malcolm,

Here's the pictures of my cracked hinges, what do you think. don't repair what isn't broken or weld now for prevention?

Thanks.

 

[malcolm]

Looks like it's just the sealant that's dried and cracked. Ideally it would be sensible to dig it out a little, clean up the rust behind and put new sealant on. Or just a bit of sealant to keep the water out of the crack.

 

[Andy Sherlock]

Thanks for the advice, I'll have a go at it this weekend.
I only have daylight to work in at the weekend now that the clocks have gone back one hour, and then only if it's not raining and/or freezing cold.
Regards.