[SCRAPPER]

Fellow Jeep People, My 2003 Rubi has a need for new tailgate hinges
due to rust issues. Has anyone ever changed these? I guess my
question is do I need a few studs to screw into the holes while I
remove the old hinges to keep any kind of backer plates from falling
down into the talgate or the body panel?? I heard you need to do this
when changing the windshield hinges.
Any input would be Appreciated!!

[Rivka]

I just took my tailgate hinge apart on both sides (door and body)
a assume that your 03 and my 05 are the same, that seems to hold true for our years in most everything else.
no worries on the inner backer plate in my circumstance. The door does seem to have a plate and it does move around, but even after moving my door all over the shop and back again the plate just shifted a little nothing a could not realign using a small screwdriver, easily poked in to line the holes up again.

the body side is just straight thru right there, you can see the upper bolts sticking out on the inside of the tub, they have nutserts or welded on bolts so not worries there, bottom ones are safe too, they work the same way.

the bolts are painted in place, i took a sharp box cutter and scored around than as best i could to minimize paint damage, if you are dealing with rust that may be the least of your concerns.
under the hinge on each part is unpainted, though i assume the metal is dipped in some way. I prepped them and shot them with a good primer and a light coat of paint before replacing them to guard against future rust.

Good luck and welcome to JeepForums!
Rivka

[SCRAPPER]

Thanks for the feedback, I thought that was the case but just wanted to check. I have a small rattle can of paint from the dealer. I figured I might have to
hit it with a shot of paint depending if the Kentrol replacements will fit exactly
over the old spots. they are stainless steel. should hold up pretty well.
If these look good and the quality is good as well, I might try tackling
my door hinges with a Stainless set as well. give it that "pimp my Jeep"
look.

[baudencm]

Not sure if you received your new hinges yet or not, but I was not impressed with the Kentrol hinges. I installed them on my old 97 jeep and there was a lot of play/sag in them and I could never get it lined up enough to shut correctly. I always had to lift the "tailgate" and push to get it to latch. If I were to do it again, I would spend a little more $$ and get better ones.

Also, it was a huge pita to get some of the torx head screws out. Make sure you have a couple decent drill bits/EZ out sets. I had to drill out about 3 or 4 screws.

Good luck!

[SCRAPPER]

The hinges are comming UPS today. The Customer service guy on the Phone said that the Kentrol line was the best for quailty and fit / finish. If the look Rinky dinky,
I'll just send them back! The stock ones work fine, just rust bubbles around the hinge bracket area. I sure don't want to "lifting up" my tailgate door every time I close it!! Thanks for the input!!

[baudencm]

Hey I went back and checked the brand that I put on my old Jeep and they were Omix Ada, not Kentrol. The Kentrol ones look waaaaay better. You should be good. Let me know how you like them because the hinges on my current jeep are also rusting...

Thanks!

[SCRAPPER]

I did get them but I don't like bolts they furnished, they are wimpy looking and the other thing I don't like is the holes in the brackets are not countersunk like the factory brackets. I know i'm nitpicking, but I just don't like the look! Otherwise the brackets themselves seem pretty beefy. The other thing that rubbed my wrong was the sticker on the package that said "Made In China" That just seems wrong to me!! I'm sending them back!

[baudencm]

Ok thanks for the feedback...i guess that raises the question....

What is everybody's preferred brand of replacement tailgate hinges???


CB