How to Replace Tailgate Hinges 1990-12 Ford Ranger
Created on: 2016-08-30
New Tailgate Hinge from 1AAuto.com How to repair, install, fix, change or replace a broken or snapped off tailgate hinge on 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11 12, Ford Ranger
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step 1 :Removing the Tailgate Cables
- Pull out on the cable tab and lift the tailgate
- Slide the tailgate cable up and off
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step 2 :Removing the Tailgate
- Lift up the tailgate
- Slide the tailgate off the right hinge
- Slide the tailgate off the left hinge
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step 3 :Removing the Tailgate Hinges
- Loosen the two T50 bolts from the hinge
- Spray the hinge with rust penetrant
- If the screws won't budge, loosen the four Phillips screws from the tail light
- Let the tail light hang and spray the bolts with rust penetrant
- Remove the T50 Torx bolts from the hinge
- Remove the hinge
- Repeat the process for the other side
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step 4 :Installing the Tailgate Hinges
- Insert the tailgate hinge
- Thread the bolts by hand
- Tighten the T50 bolts
- Replace the tail light if necessary
- Grease the hinges
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step 5 :Installing the Tailgate
- Lift the tailgate cables up
- Lift the tailgate up into place
- Insert the tailgate into the right hinge first
- Insert the tailgate into the left hinge
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step 6 :Installing the Tailgate Cables
- Hook the tailgate cable into its slot
Tools needed
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Flat Blade Screwdriver
Phillips Head Screwdriver
Rust Penetrant
Anti-Seize Grease
Ratchet
T50 Socket
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Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. I hope this how-to video helps you out, and next time you need parts for your vehicle, think of 1AAuto.com. Thanks!
In this video, we're going to be working on our 2001 Ford Ranger. We’re going to be showing you how to install tailgate hinges. This procedure is basically the same for the 1990 to 2012 Ranger.
If you enjoyed this repair, we've got many more videos for Ranger, as well as other vehicles. Please click subscribe. Also, check out 1AAuto.com.
Here are the items you'll need for this repair: flat blade screwdriver, T50 socket, ratchet, Phillips screwdriver, penetrating oil, grease
Open up your tailgate. To remove it, first you'll want to undo the tailgate cables. You can use your fingers, pull out on the tab, lift up the tailgate a little bit. Lift up the cable and off. Then for the other one, you can pry under that tab with a screwdriver and pull the tab out. Pull the cable off.
With the cables off, lift up your tailgate. Lift it off the right side first, and then slide it off the left side. Remove the tailgate.
Your hinges are held in by two T50 Torx bolts, and a lot of times these rust out or just get damaged. You can replace these with the parts from 1AAuto.com. Use a T50 Torx driver and a ratchet. Once you have it loose enough so it'll slide around, use some penetrating oil; spray it into the back, and let it soak for a little while.
If you're having a hard time with these T50 bolts, you can just take your tail light out, and you can kind of access them through a hole. There's just four Phillips screws to the tail light: one here, one here, and then there's two on the outside. Remove those and then you can just kind of let your taillight hang down. Taillight will come off, still connected by the harnesses. Just kind of let it hang down.
Down through this hole you can see the backside of the top bolt. It's kind of hard for us to show it, but just spray some penetrating oil down in there. Try to get as much on as you can.
Remove the hinge bolts. Just going to thread this top bolt back in once it’s out, just to kind of hold the bracket in place while I undo the other bolt. Comes out, and then repeat for the other side.
Tailgate hinges from 1AAuto are exact replacement. This is the new pair from 1AAuto. Here is an original set from a 2001 Ford Ranger, passenger side. You can see it has exactly the same shape, same mounting points, made out of durable steel. It won't rust and won't bend. It's going to be an excellent replacement.
Reinstall. I like to just keep one of the top bolts in here, just to make sure this bracket doesn't fall down. Work it in, start the bolt. Once you have that one in release this bolt. Start it in. Tighten it up. Using the old paint marks is generally a good way to make sure that you get the alignment good. Once you have it close, just make sure you try and line it up with the paint marks. I'm just going to use a screwdriver, kind of hold this in place while I tighten it up. Do the same on your passenger side.
Before we reinstall, put some grease right on this hinge. Make sure you lift your tailgate cables up as you replace the tailgate. Slide the left side on first.
Rehook the tailgate cables.
Before you close it up, just put a little bit of grease on your latch as well as on each side. Check your mechanism. Make sure they're nice and free, and put some grease on there as well.
Thanks for tuning in. We hope this video helped you out. Next time you need parts for your car, please visit 1AAuto.com. Also check out our other helpful how-to and diagnosis videos.
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