03-03-2015, 04:25 PM
|
#1
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: "Prattvegas" Alabama
Posts: 918
|
|
Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: "Prattvegas" Alabama
Posts: 918
|
Rear Lift Strut Bushing Fix for $1.15
There have been a couple of posts about worn out lift strut bushings on the 3rd Gen lift gate. I called the stealership and of course, they only sell the bushings together with the high dollar lift struts.
I found an easy ($1.15 cost) solution.
Go to Lowe’s and look in the specialty fasteners section for nylon bushings. Pick up one ½ x .328 x 1 (Hillman brand) nylon bushing. Bring it home and if you have a set of PVC pipe cutters (hand held as shown in the attached pic) cut the bushing in half. (one half for each side) Remove the top pin from each lift strut, pull the top part off the bracket, insert one half of the nylon piece through the bracket hole, push the strut top back over, insert the pin and set the fastening ring. (See picture). This is an easy and CHEAP fix and should last for some time. It takes the metal-to-metal rubbing away from the top end of the strut!
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-03-2015, 05:22 PM
|
#2
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 91
|
|
Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 91
|
very impressed that you found the perfect ID, OD, and length!
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-03-2015, 05:39 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 1,057
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 1,057
|
I just did the same thing this morning.
__________________
'98 SR5 Converted to '01-'02 Sport Edition
Matte Blue Vinyl Wrap - Black Interior - Too Many Mods
Build Thread
Instagram: 98trd4r
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-03-2015, 06:05 PM
|
#4
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: "Prattvegas" Alabama
Posts: 918
|
|
Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: "Prattvegas" Alabama
Posts: 918
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Do-boy
very impressed that you found the perfect ID, OD, and length!
|
Thanks man. I have to contribute the ID and OD to sheer luck! It was also lucky that by cutting the one piece in half, it exactly fits in between the "forks" of the upper strut. For me, I always like something inexpensive that solves an issue. Let's see how long this fix lasts. As the package came with two pieces, all you have to do is cut the other piece in half and you have another repair if and when they wear out or go bad.....
I put StrongArm struts on from Amazon at $44 a pair. I think the local stealership wanted something like $142 PER STRUT........my last pair of StrongArm's lasted 6 years.......
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-03-2015, 06:41 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,016
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,016
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by BamaDrewski
There have been a couple of posts about worn out lift strut bushings on the 3rd Gen lift gate. I called the stealership and of course, they only sell the bushings together with the high dollar lift struts.
I found an easy ($1.15 cost) solution.
Go to Lowe’s and look in the specialty fasteners section for nylon bushings. Pick up one ½ x .328 x 1 (Hillman brand) nylon bushing. Bring it home and if you have a set of PVC pipe cutters (hand held as shown in the attached pic) cut the bushing in half. (one half for each side) Remove the top pin from each lift strut, pull the top part off the bracket, insert one half of the nylon piece through the bracket hole, push the strut top back over, insert the pin and set the fastening ring. (See picture). This is an easy and CHEAP fix and should last for some time. It takes the metal-to-metal rubbing away from the top end of the strut!
|
I did this same thing about 2 months ago, and has been working great.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-03-2015, 10:00 PM
|
#6
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Whine Country in NorCal
Posts: 226
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Whine Country in NorCal
Posts: 226
|
Nice fix! I did something a little different, using a bronze bushing that has a flange. Bronze is softer than the steel mating parts, so it should last forever, but not as cheap as the plastic!
__________________
2000 Limited: Toytec Superflex, 255/85-16, Lil Skips gas tank skid, SaVage rear bumper and skids, BAMF Sliders
2006 SR5: FJC Coilovers +2", Toytec Superflex, 255/85-16
Sold: 2017 TRD OffRoad Prem (this rig was too nice for me!)
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-04-2015, 02:49 AM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 3,927
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 3,927
|
Nice fix, did something similar on mine. Those cutters are awesome aren't they? I use them all the time to get clean cuts on stuff like transmission lines and power steering lines.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-04-2015, 03:33 PM
|
#8
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Idaho Springs, Co
Posts: 663
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Idaho Springs, Co
Posts: 663
|
I did this twenty five years ago.
__________________
2001 SR5 4x4
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-04-2015, 03:35 PM
|
#9
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SoCal
Posts: 131
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SoCal
Posts: 131
|
good stuff.... thank you
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-04-2015, 03:54 PM
|
#10
|
|
Elite Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2011
Location: OBX, NC and Obamaville
Posts: 6,801
|
|
Elite Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: OBX, NC and Obamaville
Posts: 6,801
|
Very nice ingenuity Bama Drewski. Nylon bushings can be used for many things. Now the money you saved by not going to the dealer can buy you some more Ceratec.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-05-2015, 01:38 AM
|
#11
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Nevada
Posts: 38
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Nevada
Posts: 38
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by BamaDrewski
Thanks man. I have to contribute the ID and OD to sheer luck! It was also lucky that by cutting the one piece in half, it exactly fits in between the "forks" of the upper strut. For me, I always like something inexpensive that solves an issue. Let's see how long this fix lasts. As the package came with two pieces, all you have to do is cut the other piece in half and you have another repair if and when they wear out or go bad.....
I put StrongArm struts on from Amazon at $44 a pair. I think the local stealership wanted something like $142 PER STRUT........my last pair of StrongArm's lasted 6 years.......
|
Next project, hopefully I can remember this post.
__________________
01 Ltd 4x4. Bilstein 6112s front ICON uca, 5150 with OME 906 rear.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-05-2015, 02:36 AM
|
#12
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Chino Hills, California
Posts: 113
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Chino Hills, California
Posts: 113
|
Great minds think alike Did this a while ago too but I would also recommend side nylon washers as well, they definitely help with the the squeaky noises.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-06-2015, 08:48 AM
|
#13
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: "Prattvegas" Alabama
Posts: 918
|
|
Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: "Prattvegas" Alabama
Posts: 918
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by LittleCaesar
Very nice ingenuity Bama Drewski. Nylon bushings can be used for many things. Now the money you saved by not going to the dealer can buy you some more Ceratec.
|
LOL LittleCaesar.....I guess you just couldn't resist the Ceratec comment.....HAHAHA
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-06-2015, 10:44 AM
|
#14
|
|
Elite Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2011
Location: OBX, NC and Obamaville
Posts: 6,801
|
|
Elite Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: OBX, NC and Obamaville
Posts: 6,801
|
I am curious how it is holding up so far. Considering the 5vz is easy on oil, I would imagine quite well.
The nylon bushings are good till about 275f, then they can start to melt.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
03-06-2015, 11:16 AM
|
#15
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: "Prattvegas" Alabama
Posts: 918
|
|
Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: "Prattvegas" Alabama
Posts: 918
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by LittleCaesar
I am curious how it is holding up so far. Considering the 5vz is easy on oil, I would imagine quite well.
The nylon bushings are good till about 275f, then they can start to melt.
|
Ceratec is holding up fine. I can't imagine any normal circumstance where my truck would reach anything near 275 degrees Fahrenheit unless of course it caught on fire....LOL
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is On
|
|
|
|