what are these bars?

[xj2fsj]

Along the edge of my tailgate, where the hinges attach the gate to the body, there are two steel bars the go from the left/body to the right/gate and vice-versa. They cross over one another in the middle and seem to be the cause of my innability to get my gate to go all the way down and stay there. I can push it down t the stopping point, but when I let off, the gate comes back up a few inches and stays there. what are these? are they missaligned? can I fix them?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

They are torsion bars for the tail gate, designed to make closing the tailgate. They are relaxed when tailgate is closed and will load up with tension as the gate is opened. This in mind DO NOT take retaining covers off them when gate is open close gate and get them off from the inside, or you COULD get HURT :eek: At any rate I doubt there is much you can do with it. Sounds like your gate WORKS like it should. Brand new Wags and Cheros had tailgates that worked like that. I always considered that normal and usually amazed with the tailgate, IF I COULD OPEN IT!!!!! :D

[Tad]

Crazy_Jeepman,
Of the two tailgates I have neither has these bars, there are some on a parts rig I have access to. What is the correct way to take these things off and install them on my wag? TIA

[Crazy_Jeepman]

I lift the tailgate seal, then there is a sheetmetal cover, take it off, under that is the retaining plate. Get the bolts (1/2" socket if I recall correctly) out of the retaining plate on the floor, otherwise covered when gate is closed. Once those are out close the gate and remove the rest of them, both sides, then open gate, gate will fall open so hang on to it. They just sit in the tailgate, pull right out. By the way the retaining bolts usually break off, in fact most of the time they do :eek:
To reinstall them I place them into the open tailgate postion them and slowly close gate being sure they stay in place (Duct tape them to the tailgate works well) then I get inside the cargo area and run two longer then OEM bolts into the retaining plate to pull it down then get a couple stock length bolts and run them in, pull out overlength bolts and replace with the correct length bolts. Very easy job.........Yea RIGHT !!! LOL Good Luck. ;)

[ May 05, 2002: Message edited by: Crazy_Jeepman ]</p>

[Tad]

Yes, LOL indeed, I already broke two bolts off in the original tailgate taking it off, thankfully I'm not reusing that one. Thanks

[OBX FSJ]

XJ,

Keep in mind what those bars do. The weight of the tailgate bends them, so that in lifting the tailgate the bars eat some of the weight. The fact your tailgate sits slightly up when open just shows that the torsion bars are still adjusted right and haven't quit doing their job.

These old GWs were the pre-runner of all soccer mom rides. The tailgate had to come back up while momma had her other hand full of groceries or kids, or both. Don't fix it, it aint broke. Look at the brighter side man, it's a spring board to use at the local swimmin hole.