Rear lift gate replacement - taking the plunge

[Zacho]

After my rear lift gate was consumed by very rapid rust I have decided to replace the shell with a brand new toyota part and have it painted. A lift gate from a wrecker is considerably expensive where I live (1000-1500) and will have an unknown life before rust - so I decided buying the lift gate new and having it painted is the best option.

I'm located in Canada and I found that Amazon.com sells the factory shell believe it or not. It is listed as "Genuine Toyota 67005-35311 Back Panel Sub-Assembly". So I purchased the shell and had it shipped to a Montana shipping depot to pickup shortly. The price was just over $600 + around 180 in gas for me to drive and pick it up. Purchasing from my local toyota dealer was over $1200.

Before I begin this venture has anyone else tackled this job? To me it seems like a pretty straight forward swap. There seems to be many threads with people experiencing the rust but very few people fixing it.

Any comments are appreciated!

 

[jsmith21]

I'm letting mine rust through before I do anything to it. But I am interested how this goes.

 

[TRDCal]

It should be pretty straight forward. Removed parts from old and install in new.

While you have the latch assembly out, I suggest cleaning it up, removing any rust and lubing the shet out of it...Last winter after my truck sat for a month I opened the lift gate and the latch seized in the open position. I was like 100kms from home and couldn't close the hatch, had to get creative.

This isn't going to be much help since I don't quite remember the chain of events, but I know some weird stuff happens when you unplug the ECU located it the tailgate. I forget if I had to disconnect the battery or relearn the window position for the latch to work again. Bottom line, don't freak out if at first things don't work properly. Its just the weird and wonderful ways of the electronically controlled 4runner.

Maybe investigate the "rear window up with the key fob" mod if that tickles your fancy, its cheap and easy to do since you'll have everything apart.

Good luck

 

[dleeallen]

Have you pulled the panel to see how rusty the components are in there? Thinking regulator, wiper motor, all that stuff. I'm about to replace the regulator due to it rusting out. Be prepared for it to all snowball. You may also want to replace the lower outer window seal to help keep water out of there.

 

[Rocket61]

After my rear lift gate was consumed by very rapid rust I have decided to replace the shell with a brand new toyota part and have it painted. A lift gate from a wrecker is considerably expensive where I live (1000-1500) and will have an unknown life before rust - so I decided buying the lift gate new and having it painted is the best option.

I'm located in Canada and I found that Amazon.com sells the factory shell believe it or not. It is listed as "Genuine Toyota 67005-35311 Back Panel Sub-Assembly". So I purchased the shell and had it shipped to a Montana shipping depot to pickup shortly. The price was just over $600 + around 180 in gas for me to drive and pick it up. Purchasing from my local toyota dealer was over $1200.

Before I begin this venture has anyone else tackled this job? To me it seems like a pretty straight forward swap. There seems to be many threads with people experiencing the rust but very few people fixing it.

Any comments are appreciated!

If you're in Calgary we should go wheeling

 

[Zacho]

Just a follow up.

I completed the lift gate replacement a few weeks ago. It really wasn't that hard at all.

Note: I chose to replace both of the seals around the rear window, and the rear washer nozzle. All three items were worse for wear and likely to let water into the new lift gate so I replaced them. The nozzle was ~$15, and both seals ~$190. All in for the lift gate replacement I'm less than $1000 not including paint.

A couple replacement tips:

-Lubricate the window regulator while its out. Mine was still in good shape.
-Lubricate the lift gate latch mechanism. Mine had some rust on the mechanism and I wire brushed it off/lubricated it. Sounds a lot better now.
-Buy a interior clip removal tool if you don't have one. Lots of wire harness clips and panel clips need to come out to transfer over to the new lift gate
-Replace the 4 bolts holding with window to the regulator if they are even remotely corroded

I'll add some photos shortly.

 

[906Runner]

Just a follow up.

I completed the lift gate replacement a few weeks ago. It really wasn't that hard at all.

Note: I chose to replace both of the seals around the rear window, and the rear washer nozzle. All three items were worse for wear and likely to let water into the new lift gate so I replaced them. The nozzle was ~$15, and both seals ~$190. All in for the lift gate replacement I'm less than $1000 not including paint.

A couple replacement tips:

-Lubricate the window regulator while its out. Mine was still in good shape.
-Lubricate the lift gate latch mechanism. Mine had some rust on the mechanism and I wire brushed it off/lubricated it. Sounds a lot better now.
-Buy a interior clip removal tool if you don't have one. Lots of wire harness clips and panel clips need to come out to transfer over to the new lift gate
-Replace the 4 bolts holding with window to the regulator if they are even remotely corroded

I'll add some photos shortly.

Tips on how to remove the rear washer nozzle? Can't seem to figure it out without causing damage. Is it a twist and out, or are there clips that I can't see within the door frame? Thanks!

 

[JBin402]

I see a lot of people with rusty tailgates but not a lot of answers. I have an 07 Sport. What started out as a small bubble in the paint, that i had to babysit has now turned into a rust spot the size of a softball. The tailgate also came from the dealer with the "handful of goo" upgrade when opening the door manually. So with those issues, the plan has been to swap tailgates. I found an 08 tailgate at a salvage yard for $700. Same color, shadow mica, spoiler with no backup cam, just a year newer. This thing should just be bolt on and wiring harnesses should match up? I should just have to swap the key lock. Then figure out what parts need to be swapped for the window roll down on the key fob? I assume there is some kind of box in there that needs to change out?
Anyone have experience with the tailgate swap? I can handle the mechanical part but not sure about the electrical issues that I might encounter. Thanks for the replies.

 

[4RunrMN]

Rear gate replacement

Looking at Rear Gate replacement. Would like to know how the electronics for rear window and lock are aligned with replacement door. Haven't purchased yet, but with everything rattling around in my current 06 I will need to do it soon. Thanks

 

[4RunrMN]

JBin402, Did you ever get an answer to your questions on rear gate? If you have done the work how did it go? I am thinking of bringing to a garage and letting them figure it out.