Jackscrew Regulator

[Gyawo]

So I have recently found out why my Tailgate power window wouldn't work. The plastic gear that gets turned by the jackscrew is "stripped" where the sprocket that turns the regulator arms sits. I was wondering if anyone knows if I have to go junkyard hopping, or if I can get a new jackscrew regulator from GM/AC Delco, or if someone makes a metal version of this gear?

[Gyawo]

Well, found out what that part is actually called. It is the rear window regulator transmission. $129.00 bucks from GM, shipped from Detroit. Looks like I will be junkyard hopping this weekend...

[Zoomad75]

Chances are in a junkyard any you find are going to be similar or worse than what you got. The problem is when the rollers on the tracks fail to spin, the drag on the motor and gearing increases and the gears wipe out. Same thing happens on the manual crank versions except instead of stripping gears the crank handle snaps.

I'd go for the new part. Get new rollers for the tracks too while you are at it. Otherwise you'll be stripping gears again. Replace the gears and rollers. Clean the roller tracks out well and lube them. It will last a lot longer.

[Gyawo]

Fair enough. The gear that was in mine was jerry rigged though, the metal gear had a grinding disk taken to it for some reason. You mentioned getting new rollers, are these on the window itself? Or are they the rollers that are on the regulator arms that have the sliders that bolt onto the window?

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Originally Posted by Gyawo

Fair enough. The gear that was in mine was jerry rigged though, the metal gear had a grinding disk taken to it for some reason. You mentioned getting new rollers, are these on the window itself? Or are they the rollers that are on the regulator arms that have the sliders that bolt onto the window?

On the regulator arms.

[Gyawo]

Thanks for the responses. Will have to order it from GM tomorrow clean up the tracks.

[Zoomad75]

Ble's right. The rollers are on the arms that slide on the tracks attached to the bottom of the glass itself. Mine were worn down to a "D" shape since the tracks were filled with dirt and rust from water getting past the seal. All that crap caused the rollers to stop rolling and start sliding. Eventually it wears down the rollers and then things fail. Mine wouldn't roll up the last 3 inches. I've re-lubed mine once since I rebuilt it and the rollers are still ok.

It's worth it to do it now. It will save you a motor and cable from breaking after you put the new gears in.