When you went to check your struts what did you find?
Both struts loose
7%
7%
[40]
Left strut loose
1%
1%
[10]
Right strut loose
37%
37%
[202]
Both struts tight
52%
52%
[283]
Total Votes: 535
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26772
Go and check your tailgate struts now!
This is related to my other post reporting the failure of the tailgate gas strut top mounting.
I have found the TSB which refers to this LA501-018. It describes the possible "Torque Relaxation" of the top strut mounting, resulting in damage to the captive nut.
In other words, the muppet at the factory did not tighten it up enough, and it will fall off!
If its caught early enough, it can have loctite applied and be retorqued. If it has damaged the mounting then its a big job involving cutting large holes for access, welding new plates on inside the D posts, and blanking off the access hole then painting.
So, go and have a look at the top mounting for the gas struts, and make sure they are tightly screwed into the body, or yours will fail too
Please vote in the poll so we can gather some information about the tailgate strut torque relaxation problem. Thanks!
26th Mar 2006 8:48 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Does the TSB give the correct torque setting?
Knowing my luck the very act of tightening will be enough for the weld to let-go.
27th Mar 2006 6:40 am
10forcash
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
Torque is 23Nm / 17lb-ft
27th Mar 2006 7:42 am
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
10forcash wrote:
Torque is 23Nm / 17lb-ft
no 10... thats the torque available under hard throttle on the RRS
And thanks Gareth. Will check mine today.
-s
27th Mar 2006 7:59 am
10forcash
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
27th Mar 2006 8:00 am
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
According to the GTR doc you need to disconnect the ball joint to check. Maybe better for the dealer to look at.
Guess what my RH ball joint was about 4 turns out.
See poorly focused pic.
The LH ball joint was loose as well
You need to pop off the small metal clip from the ball joint on the tailgate (i.e. not the ball joint on the D pillar) and the socket with strut will easily pull off. You can then get a 1/2" or 13mm onto the Ball joint on the D pillar and tighten it up.
Chris2011 Discovery 4 (MY12) SDV6 HSE with General Grabber AT's, Traxide Aux Battery system, custom rear drawers and Autosafe half height cargo barrier
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27th Mar 2006 9:17 am
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
Cheers Chris this will help.
Quick question... will this fix the issue or is it still best to get the dealer to check ?
-s
27th Mar 2006 9:29 am
10forcash
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
LR recommends threadlock, if it's at the angle suggested in the pic above, I personally would'nt take it out to apply threadlock as the nut is most likely already loose.
The choice really is to tighten it up to the recommended torque and keep an eye on it - or - let LR have it to cut holes and weld in the repair plate
f you do re-torque it yourself, have a look at the exposed thread before doing it, any thread wear may cause the captive nut to cross thread or strip, which will neccesitate the LR repair anyway
I didn't have any thread lock like Loctite but wanted to get them done up asap.
I will go and get some thread lock and then undo the balls about 3 turns and then drop some thread lock onto the thread and do it up again. The thread lock will work into the thread sufficently to hold it.
I reckon Gareth's captive nut/plate has broken because the ball has worked loose and the constant opening/closing is pushing the ball at an angle and over time the spot welds on the plate has fatigued due to the extra load.
So get them tightened up urgently othersiwe it could pull out and end up like Gareth's. It really is only a five minute job even for the Dealer to do.
Chris2011 Discovery 4 (MY12) SDV6 HSE with General Grabber AT's, Traxide Aux Battery system, custom rear drawers and Autosafe half height cargo barrier
Gone - 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE
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27th Mar 2006 10:14 am
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
mine look completely flush to the metal so guess are OK
-s
27th Mar 2006 10:34 am
AN
Member Since: 26 Jul 2005
Location: Hungary
Posts: 327
I have just looked it, and LH looks OK, but RH is similar to PCH. Looks like I have to do some spanner work tonight, hope that the nut is still welded to the pillar...LR D3 S Black, Auto TDV6
27th Mar 2006 11:59 am
AndrewS Tarquin of the Desert
Member Since: 06 May 2005
Location: Y...... because I can
Posts: 10441
My right hand one was just about to fall out, thanks Gareth! Its easy to get at the bolt to re tighten it without taking the strut off, just push the tail gate up a bit to take the weight.In the Beginning there was nothing, which exploded.
27th Mar 2006 12:21 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10351
guys
same here - right hand one only loose. A 13mm open ended spanner will fit with the strut still in place. Now retightened, but I'll keep an eye on it.
thanks for this valuable info.
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