Rear Lift Strut Bushing Fix for $1.15

[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!

 

[Do-boy]

very impressed that you found the perfect ID, OD, and length!

 

[zacattack20]

I just did the same thing this morning.

 

[BamaDrewski]

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.......

 

[RedSled]

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.

 

[MountainBiker]

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!

 

[Unner]

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.

 

[thor999]

I did this twenty five years ago. :fish2:

 

[SoSoJeff]

good stuff.... thank you:thumb:

 

[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.

 

[Fastphin]

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.

 

[Wikano]

Great minds think alike :cheers: Did this a while ago too but I would also recommend side nylon washers as well, they definitely help with the the squeaky noises.

 

[BamaDrewski]

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

 

[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.

 

[BamaDrewski]

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

 

[octanejunkie]

This is a great fix for the deteriorated factory bushing, but what if the hole in the bracket itself is galled out and the pin rocks around in the hole?

Has anyone found a bushing for that? Something like a mini shoulder washer I think, like this

Then any other washer on the other side you want

 

[slomatt]

This is a great fix, thanks to those who suggested it. Here are some pictures from my install.

The stock bushings failed allowing metal on metal contact which made it harder to open and close the hatch.

You can see that the stock bushing is done and the hole in the bracket is starting to get ovaled. I used a file to smooth it out.

Cutting the bushing in half using a fine tooth saw and a vise as a straight edge.

New bushings and lift struts in place.

 

[WWRD99]

I did this today and it works great! There are brass bushings at lowes that if I needed them I could make one work...this only takes a few minutes.

 

[fatherohenry]

I noticed today that the c-clip had gone missing from my right strut and I remembered reading this post in the past so I decided to give it a go. The original bushings must have disintegrated years ago because there was nothing there but the pin.

After cutting the spacer in half I had to trim both pieces with my Leatherman to get them to fit between the strut "forks" but they were both a tight, solid fit. I was stoked!

Much to my chagrin, the OD of the pieces was too large to fit through the bracket holes on my '96 SR5. I tried squeezing the hell out of 'em but I just couldn't get it in the hole.

Guess I'll have to find a smaller bushing next time I'm out. But I replaced the c-clips and the flat nylon washers fit so I got that going for me which is better than nothing.

 

[Dad2A3rdG]

3rd Gen Rear Strut Bushing

Thank you - saved me a lot of time and save me from frustration!