Tailgate removal

[Ventura76]

Hi

Can someone please tell me how to remove may tailgate. I can't remove the bolt on each side. Looks like the hole axle is turning with the bolt.

Any tip?

Thanks

[Ventura76]

Sorry for my bad English :-)

[turbosix]

Penetrating oil and an impact. I'd then hold or wedge the shaft best I could.

[tucsonjwt]

I don't know how much space you have in there, but I have some thin channel locks that I think would fit in there to hold it in place while you turned the bolt. Needle nose vise grips might also work. I would wrap it with some rubber or leather first.

[Ventura76]

Thanks. I will try to hold the shaft in place and use penetrating oil tomorrow

I will let you know

[Gregski]

what year is your truck, did you post this in the right section? I thought you just lift it out one side at a time, no need to undo any bolts (well till later after you got it off and you want the brackets it pivots on off)

[Ventura76]

Hi Gregski,

My truck is a 1975 GMC Sierra Stepside shortbox

I tried also to lift if out, tailgate half way etc... but it looks like there is no position where the gate is free to be removed.

The mounting rings are not bolted but welded.

-4 F this morning. A lot of fun to come trying to remove the gate

[Dead Parrot]

On my 75 LWB, the magic angle is to have the tailgate at 45*. Only one side will lift out. The other end, like the one you pictured, just falls off once the first end is free. Now if a PO modified the bed and used two of the round pivots instead of 1 round and 1 odd shaped, you might have a problem.

Given the temps, might give the penetrating oil a few days to do its magic, with twice daily doses.

[chrismoore701]

There is a slot in the round nut on the tailgate side of the side panel. Jam a screwdriver or something in this slot to hold it and use an impact on it. Lots of penitraiting oil and maybe some heat

[Ventura76]

Thanks guys.

It's now removed.

I put something in the slot (see picture) and some penetrating oil.

One more time thank you for your help

[chrismoore701]

Well done. Not sure if I would use that wrench to jam in the hole a drift punch or a screw driver would be better. Good job

[Ventura76]

You are right. But all by myself at -4F the wrench did the job :-)

Not to do on a showroom car