Bushings for Tailgate Hinge
 

The tail gate on my 53 Chevy truck fits quite loose (about 1/4" of play between the tailgate and the hinge. Am I missing a bushing that should go in the tailgate or meant to be loose on the hinges?

Thanks.

Wade

Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge
 

I know of no bushing, are the hinges or the gate reproduction?

Brian

Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge
 

47-53 use this style hinge
they may be worn slap out

https://raybuck.com/wp-content/uploa...t-image-1.jpeg

54 to 80s used this style hinge

https://www.classicparts.com/images/11-513.jpg

Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge
 

I acquired the truck as a project, but the parts look original. It may be that they are worn.

Ogre, I have the 53 style hinges.

Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge
 

Trunnion. That's the technical term for the "hinge".

Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge
 

Worn out or the hole in the tailgate is stretched out. You just have to take it apart and see what looks bad and either replace the part or come up with a way to take up the slack

They don't sell bushings but that doesn't mean you can't make a bushing or sleeve to take up some of that slack.

Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge
 

Yep, in fact it sounds like a good idea! A strip of polyurethane or something.

Brian

Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge
 

I JUST bought the reproduction poly type trunnions for my ‘55.2 figuring they’d cause less rattling than the original metal ones. Plus they come with polished stainless buttonhead bolts that will look better.

But they made my tailgate fit slightly lower than the factory bedsides which would have resulted in chips happening faster on the tailgate “Hasps” (I guess they’d be called). i mean where the slotted tab on the tailgate mates with the bedside and the chain goes through. I hope that description makes some sense. I have no photo. Unfortunately this makes me have to use the factor plain carbon steel bolt for now. But I’ll swap them out for stainless eventually.

We re-installed the factory metal ones coated in wheel bearing grease.

Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge
 

I made some bushings and hinges..I had to make new hinges anyway because one was homemade...
Different manufacture but may give you some ideas...
I made them from uhmw...

Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge
 

Greg, you may get many inquiries on these. Looks like a good clean design.