[clanger]

2014 4Runner SR5

Tailgate latch area has major rust happening and didn’t get this bad till this fall. I had an issue with the glass falling down due to rust on the hangar and motor dropping it this summer. Now I found this after removing the trim piece that covers up the latch assembly. Really bummed it got this far.

This area inside the tailgate is just prone to excess moisture in my 4Runner. Clogged weep holes along the bottom doesn’t help either. I’m worried it is too late but wanted to get your thoughts. Hoping it might be salvageable.

My initial thought is using a rust converter and sanding to try to save it. Inside and out of the tailgate assembly. Worse case I’ll run until it breaks off and buy just the tailgate body part. Paint and re-assemble it myself.

[GreenMountainOwl]

I didn’t bother to try to save mine.

I read somewhere that only two manufacturers make the assemblies, despite branding and price differences. So I went with the cheapest imported eBay latch assembly about six months ago and it’s been fine.

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I replaced mine with OEM after 8 years and rusty latch mechanism before it failed and locked up.

[clanger]

Did you replace just the rear tailgate assembly and moved everything over? There are sales right now on the tailgate only for $625 which isn’t horrible. I think I’m able to fix it myself but waiting for winter to end.

Part below:

[kenwilliams0803]

I JB welded the tailgate and lubed up the latch with PB Blaster. I'm not about to replace an entire tailgate just based on this.

However-- I will say that if it was to eat things out enough the latch would have nowhere to bolt to, then that's an issue.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

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My locking mechanism was rusty, which I replaced. Tailgate is fine and didn't need to be replaced.