How To Fix Tailgate On Chevy Truck

Saturday morn, yous pull upward to the local lumber one thousand with your list of supplies needed to finish the deck, supervene upon those disrepair sprinkler heads, or whatever you accept been putting off for months. Your shopping cart is loaded down with tons of home-repair goodies. Yous reach for the handle on the tailgate of your truck and bam, nothing. What? Why did that not work? The handle's reason for being in this world is to open the tailgate. So, of course, you give it a few more than tugs to no avail. Sure enough, the dang this is busted, kaput, no longer viable as a tailgate handle. Only don't worry, we are virtually to teach you lot broken tailgate handle repair.

The tailgate handle on this 2002 Chevy 2500 HD is not working, so we need to pop the cover off and take a look. — The tailgate handle on this 2002 Chevy 2500 HD is not working, and so we need to pop the cover off and take a look.

Finding The Root Of The Problem

This can happen on whatever truck, simply it doesn't have to. The tailgate handles is non the issue here, it is actually the latches themselves. There are two latches, ane on either side of the tailgate. Over time, these latches become coated with dirt and rust. When the lubrication is gone and the latch sticks, the increased effort required to open the tail gate stresses the cast atomic number 26 arms on the handle. Put besides much stress on these arms, and they break, leaving you with a busted tailgate.

The plastic arms were intact, it is common for these to break. Unfortunately, this truck has a broken handle mechanism. — The plastic arms were intact, it is mutual for these to break. Unfortunately, this truck has a cleaved handle mechanism.

Fixing The Broken Tailgate Handle

Luckily NAPA has the gear up for both issues. NAPA Solution Parts has replacement handles for all of the most popular trucks on the road. Nosotros recently dealt with this issue on a 2002 Chevrolet truck. The truck was a recent purchase and the tailgate handle was broken when we bought information technology. A trip to our local NAPA provided us with a new NAPA Solutions handle and a new replacement handle cover, as the original plastic cover broke when information technology was removed to open the tailgate.

The plastic clips just pop off of the rods, then the rods pulls out of the handle arm. — The plastic clips but pop off of the rods, so the rods pulls out of the handle arm.

The actual broken tailgate handle repair is easy, just three bolts and a couple of plastic clips that concur the rods that operate the latches hold the handle in identify. Nosotros unbolted the handle and popped the clips off. This allows us to supersede the handle, but what virtually the latches? If you don't take care of the latches now, the new handle will merely suspension again down the route.

There are three bolts inside the bed that hold the handle in place. They are metric 13 mm on this truck. You can see the left-side lever is broken, there should be a tab to push on the arm. It is missing. — There are iii bolts inside the bed that hold the handle in place. They are metric 13 mm on this truck. You can come across the left-side lever is broken, there should be a tab to push on the arm. It is missing.

There are two bolts property the latches in place on each side. Merely remove one at a time, as the tailgate cable has to exist removed besides.

The latches are the main issue, as they get corroded and dirty. Two bolts hold them in. Only do one side at a time. — The latches are the main issue, as they get corroded and dirty. 2 bolts concord them in. Only do one side at a fourth dimension.

With the latch out, we used some Slip Plate Black Ice graphite penetrating oil to lubricate the latch. The penetrating oil helps pull the graphite into the inner workings of the latch then that when the oil somewhen dries upwardly, the latch will have a protective blanket of graphite for shine operation.

The latch is dirty and dry, so we knocked the dirty and crud off of it first. — The latch is muddied and dry, so we knocked the dirty and crud off of it first.

We used Slip Plate Black Ice lubricant to provide long lasting lubrication. You can use a plain wet lube, but the graphite in Black Ice will last much longer. — We used Slip Plate Black Ice lubricant to provide long lasting lubrication. Yous can use a plain wet lube, but the graphite in Black Ice volition last much longer.

The latches were reinstalled and the tailgate closed. Be sure that the rod does not go backside the handle recess, or you volition have to remove it to get the handle attached.

When the latches are reinstalled, you have to make sure the rod goes above the recess for the handle, otherwise you will have to pull it out and reinstall it. — When the latches are reinstalled, you accept to brand sure the rod goes above the recess for the handle, otherwise you will have to pull it out and reinstall it.

Next, the new handle was installed using the original hardware. Don't forget to snap the latch rods into the plastic clips.

We picked up a new NAPA Solutions handle and trim cover for the truck for a perfect fit.

The handle installs just like it came out.

Then the three bolts reinstalled and tightened down. — Then the 3 bolts reinstalled and tightened down.

Don't forget to attach the rods to the handle and clip them in. — Don't forget to adhere the rods to the handle and prune them in.

The last pace is installing the new plastic comprehend. If your encompass is non broken, then y'all can reuse it. All iv tabs were cleaved on our comprehend.

We popped the new cover into the hole. All done. — Nosotros popped the new cover into the hole. All done.

Before nosotros repaired it, the tailgate would open, but it took some try. Subsequently, the tailgate latch is smoothen as butter. The total broken tailgate handle repair fourth dimension is about 15 minutes.

Check out all the body & accessory products available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on cleaved tailgate handle repair, chat with a knowledgeable skillful at your local NAPA Auto PARTS store.

Jefferson Bryant View All

A life-long gearhead, Jefferson Bryant spends more time in the store than anywhere else. His career began in the automobile audio industry every bit a shop manager, eventually working his way into a position at Rockford Fosgate as a product designer. In 2003, he began writing tech articles for magazines, and has been working as an automotive journalist ever since. His work has been featured in Auto Craft, Hot Rod, Rod & Custom, Truckin', Mopar Muscle, and many more than. Jefferson has likewise written 4 books and produced countless videos. Jefferson operates Ruby Clay Rodz, his personal garage studio, where all of his mag manufactures and tech videos are produced.