Tailgate Hinge/Latch mount tearing??? Little Help?

This is....frustrating. One of the screws on the lower latch of my '96 Roadmaster's tailgate is....tearing. I don't often sit on the tailgate or put weight on it, and it doesn't sag...so why? WHY? I'm thinking of backing out the screw, painting a washer body color, and mounting it there. Any other wagon folks have this happen?




-Mike

I have never see one like that. I would put the washer on it. I believe it is caused by misalignment of the striker and latch. Raising that side of the gate a little would remove the stress. You can loosen the right upper hinge/latch from the body, and move/jack the gate up a little. Fully tighten the nuts when the gate closes smoothly. The bearing surfaces wear over time, and can cause the gate to drop on that end. Continued slamming of the gate can cause the latch/hinge to stress the metal of the gate.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

I have never see one like that. I would put the washer on it. I believe it is caused by misalignment of the striker and latch. Raising that side of the gate a little would remove the stress. You can loosen the right upper hinge/latch from the body, and move/jack the gate up a little. Fully tighten the nuts when the gate closes smoothly. The bearing surfaces wear over time, and can cause the gate to drop on that end. Continued slamming of the gate can cause the latch/hinge to stress the metal of the gate.

Thanks. I'll be playing with this.

-Mike