08 tailgate problem 911!!!!!

[rjwareagle]

got mine yesterday and the bracket this morning. installed the new bracket and it pushed the whole tailgate over a 1/4 inch towards the passenger side. even rubbed paint off the gate and the side by my taillight.... take the bracket off and just attach the cables and lock it on the hinges it fits perfect with no gaps. but when the bracket is on a it way off. Am I missing something? whats wrong? im going by the ford place and i am going to look at the 08 and see if i missed something.??????

[Eric]

Originally Posted by rjwareagle

got mine yesterday and the bracket this morning. installed the new bracket and it pushed the whole tailgate over a 1/4 inch towards the passenger side. even rubbed paint off the gate and the side by my taillight.... take the bracket off and just attach the cables and lock it on the hinges it fits perfect with no gaps. but when the bracket is on a it way off. Am I missing something? whats wrong? im going by the ford place and i am going to look at the 08 and see if i missed something.??????

Hmmm. That's odd. I didn't have any problems with mine like that. I had to re-adjust my catch pins because the tailgate didn't close tight but that was a simple fix

[LOOSEWHEEL]

No problems with mine either. Bolted right up. Didn't even have to adjust anything. What is the part # of the hinge you got?

[Amarillo_Powerstroker]

Originally Posted by rjwareagle

got mine yesterday and the bracket this morning. installed the new bracket and it pushed the whole tailgate over a 1/4 inch towards the passenger side. even rubbed paint off the gate and the side by my taillight.... take the bracket off and just attach the cables and lock it on the hinges it fits perfect with no gaps. but when the bracket is on a it way off. Am I missing something? whats wrong? im going by the ford place and i am going to look at the 08 and see if i missed something.??????

Mine did the same thing except it shifted towards the drivers side. When you closed the gate, it would walk towards the drivers side and rub the paint off. I'd like to know if I missed something too or did something wrong, but for now I just put a washer behind the new drivers side hinge on each bolt to shim the hinge out and it seems to work for now......Also, dont forget about the $0.50 "hose clamp" mod for the passenger side hinge to prevent some from lifting your gate off and stealing it.

-Brad

[rjwareagle]

yea mine is the opposite for some reason.. what is the part number for the bracket? im going to order one before i give up? this kinda stinks. something so easy goes so south.....

[rjwareagle]

the gap is bad when the bracket is on. with it off, i can latch the pass side and lock it in and its perfect. thats why im thinking its the bracket? any one have pics?

[LOOSEWHEEL]

4L3Z83430B39AA

Have you tried to adjust the position of the new hinge? There is quite a bit of play from what I recall.

[rjwareagle]

do you remember the position that you put it in? i didnt think that the hinge position would affect the shifting of the gate.. but it might....

[rjwareagle]

ok, fixed. after some beers and a few trips to the dealership (not while having beers) i decided the bracket was wrong. I took it off the same truck that i got the tailgate. well, the new one was flat on the back side ($6.42) the original one was curved which threw the tailgate off. I have no clue what happened, but its fixed and thanks for all your help!!
Man, the 08 tailgate is so much lighter that the 06.....