Chevy Tailgate Bushing Repair For Lift Assist. GM Design Flaw! 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 GM

After 5 repairs to this same part, I finally figured out why it keeps breaking. There's other videos on forums about people talking about it but almost nobody has come up with a solution. In this video I explain exactly what is causing it and show my attempt to fix it. Time will tell if it breaks again. Chevy lift assist tailgates are notorious for problems. This little plastic part is super expensive! Especially if you have the dealer do it. Every other time I've had it fixed it was under warranty...More than once per year this breaks. This time I bought my own off ebay... Here's an affiliate link to Amazon and also a link to the one I purchased on ebay. I'll also put a link to a GM website where you can buy direct. GOOD LUCK!
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Fits most of these these vehicles and maybe more!
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2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500HD, 3500HD, Colorado
GMC Sierra 1500, 2500HD, 3500HD, Canyon
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Borsellino Carpentry is a construction company located in Upstate New York. I specialize in small residential remodeling jobs. This channel is dedicated to teaching other contractors, carpenters, small business owners, DIYers, weekend warriors and anyone else who just wants to learn a little bit about home improvement. The full name of the company is actually Borsellino Carpentry & Home Repair, LLC but that is just too much of a mouthful! I also do tool reviews, business tips and other contractor related videos on this channel. In the wintertime I even do snow plowing videos. I try to mix it up and show all the parts of the contracting job, not just the glorious finished product. Please leave me a comment and let me know if there's any specific topics or jobs you'd like me to cover. Thanks for watching! 👋😃
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#chevy #tailgatebushing #chevytailgate

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

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[@DIANACRIDER]

SUPER helpful. My dealership just quoted $431 to have this done. Thanks!!

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

yeah forget the dealership! And don't buy the GM One They kept breaking and this aftermarket one lasted me years until I sold the truck a few months ago and it was still working fine

[@casey7091]

I am on my 3rd one in under a year I’ll have to give this a shot. I had to buy the bushing for the first time and it’s already bad again. Thx for the info

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

i wish you luck! Mine has held up (so far) but it has only been a few months

[@jrickyprice]

If you still need to bend the bracket for bushing try to Use a c clamp. You Can tighten the c clamp to the pressure you need.

[@WildMountainGarage]

I literally bought a shock to fix this not knowing the bushing existed. I bought my truck used and the dealer swapped the tailgate. A viewer told me about this but I couldn't find if it worked on a 2500. Thank you for this. And as a former NYer, sorry about the rust. :-)

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

Hope it helps!! Yeah the rust is brutal here.......

[@-Hood-]

Thanks for sharing, very helpful. I think it's supposed to open even more gently, to the point where you don't even have to hold it at all. My LTZ use to until it broke. I bought the bushing but looking into it further

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

Yeah there are some major design flaws with the longevity of the whole system

[@briang9472]

I bought a brand new 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 in February 2017. Very similar bushing and I have gone through 2 or more bushings per year! All it takes is normal use OR just a few weekends camping or fishing and this piece of crap rip-off bushing breaks! The service guys at the GMC dealer act as if they have never seen the problem- yet if you look online at forums, or here on KZbin you’ll find out quick that it is a chronic issue. What’s worse is they won’t cover it after the 3 year warranty. ***General Motors, This is a design flaw and it should be covered for life because of this! We expect better from a $54,000 truck!

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

IT IS INSANITY!!! I will say that this aftermarket one I bought has NOT broken yet!!! So I don't know if its the bushing or the little hammering I did, but it worked!!!

[@teejay622]

Next time, get a small round wire cup/brush for your drill and run it inside of the pocket on the truck side of that pivot point (where the bushing rotates inside of) to remove the rust and hopefully smooth the edges on the inside of that pocket. You could immediately see that the rusty jagged edge on the inside of that cup was already rubbing into the new bushing at the 5:28 mark. Next time you replace that bushing, smooth out the inside of that cup, add some lube and you'll be golden.

[@scotttoner9231]

Well done - many thanks for the link, too

[@Danabcde1]

Use vise grips to correct the female U on tailgate. Thanks for the video.

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

good idea!

[@mahlonwoirhaye161]

Tip on bending. Use a crescent wrench.

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

good idea! I definitely struggled with that but I'm happy to report it worked and hasn't broken since I made this video!!! This has lasted way longer than any of the ones chevy installed for me

[@timcochran1385]

Thank you. My '15 Sierra just broke.

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

I'm happy to report this one is still working perfectly in my truck, 9 months later. The old GM ones didn't last this long! It even made it through a whole plow season!

[@joshbrucksch]

Thanks - had the same issue on my 2016 Silverado.

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

happy to report this aftermarket one is still in and hasn't broken!!! It lasted way longer than the GM ones

[@joshbrucksch]

Fantastic to hear! I ended up getting one of those tailgate shock assist things as well 🤷‍♂️

[@scrimshank1]

I got tired of paying $30+ each and then by the six pack when suddenly I realised there were lots of them in my grandson's Leggo set.

[@lenjessen5231]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

You're welcome! And I'm happy to report it has held up since I made this video!

[@jerryfujiwara6326]

Would help if you grease it once in a while.

[@martinazuajr.8238]

The plastic on the bumper has been scratching the lower tailgate. Do you think this can be causing it? I did see that it was broken

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

yeah it causes too much wiggle room and I could see how that could cause it. I will say that after making this video this one I put in has actually lasted!!! It's been over a year!!! The GM one's never lasted this long!

[@joewest826]

Holy cow. Look at me commenting on a 2-year-old video. Just maybe this information might help someone. A little lubrication would go a long way in keeping the surface tension off of that plastic piece which is probably why they keep breaking. I could already see the rusted parts leaving gouges or marks in the new plastic piece just with the few times you opened and closed it. Rust and plastic don't mix. If the plastic part binds on the rusted steel piece it rides on, what do you think will break first. That's right...the plastic. Did you ever think that its not the metal yoke on the tailgate that's the problem. Maybe it's the aftermarket plastic piece that's the problem. The metal piece on the tailgate might be flared just a little to facilitate sliding the tailgate onto the opposite lug on the bed. I know you said the dealer replaced it a couple times so not sure that theory holds water. I'd be curious to know what the dealer said as to why this part keeps breaking. If you still feel that the bottom of the yoke on the tail gate is the problem, you can do 1 of 2 things. 1) use a grinder and carefully grind away some of the steel on the bottom of the yoke so that the plastic piece fits better. Mask off any body parts your worried about accidently contacting with the grinder. Or you could probably us a rotary file in a drill as well. You only need to chamfer the edges and maybe remove some metal on the bottom to get a better fit for the plastic piece. 2) get a regular "C" clamp with the machine screw, not the vice grip kind. Get a small handheld soldering torch from Home Depot and try heating it. Put a wet rag between the yoke and tailgate and only put heat right on the inside of the portion of the yoke you want to bend. Keep applying heat and tightening the clamp until it bends the desired amount. You don't need to get it cherry red for it to bend. If you bend it too much and it won't fit back on the mating lug now you have the opposite problem. You can also try slipping an adjustable wrench over that part of the yoke and pry up on the wrench to bend it. Put a small piece of pipe over the wrench for more leverage. You might be able to get it to move that way without heating it. Or by just using a bigger c-clamp that you have to tighten with a wrench. Tightening it by hand probably won't apply enough pressure. If you would have had a piece of 1/2" round bar, a bigger hammer and someone to hold down the tailgate you might have been able to bend that way with a couple of heavy blows but a screwdriver and claw hammer ain't gonna cut it. Or you could take it to a muffler shop and get them to heat it a little. They cut and heat stuff all the time without damaging things around them. Try the crescent wrench or c-clamp (not the carpenter clamp in the video) without heat. I recommend the rotary file in a drill that way you're most likely not to cause a bigger problem. Again, try some lube first...please. A light coat of white lithium grease would probably work best. Lube it once or twice a year as necessary. This is my opinion only. Actual results may vary.

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

Thanks for the thorough comment and info! Shockingly this aftermarket one is still on my truck and hasn't broken unlike the OEM GM ones that only lasted a few months. Since it hasn't broke again I haven't thought about it in 2 years except when someone comments on this video 😃 I'm not much of a mechanic so I'll have to remember some of your tips for next time (if there is a next time) thanks again!

[@domin8ss]

I have a 2020 Silverado Trail Boss LT and now have to replace the bushing. It's broken, and the tailgate keeps trying to come off when I lift it to close. Bought the truck July 2020. I have 14,000 miles.

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

Mine hasn't broken since I made this video and replaced it with this aftermarket bushing. Not sure if it's because it's aftermarket or I was able to bend the metal. This is a huge design flaw with the Chevy tailgate. It is covered under warranty though so if you bring it in they have to repair it.

[@domin8ss]

@@BorsellinoHomeServicesI'm waiting until the next oil change. Currently at 8% oil life, so that won't be too long from now. If send you a great pic of mine if KZbin allowed that, but it doesn't. I think you'd be surprised.

[@AJGaming-dy7uj]

Vice grips or a small C clamp to bend it.

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

good idea. it has held up ever since i made this video, unlike all the gm ones!

[@JASONTUNOFFUN]

Try and use a C- Clamp to bend it back. Just a suggestion.

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

I'm not sure I'm strong enough to tighten it enough to bend steel. But I can say that since replacing this bushing, it has yet to break. Lasted longer than all the GM ones I tried!!!

[@walterjoncas12]

Good fix. Maybe you can think of a metal worker who can help with bending the metal on the gate itself. Its about the tools.

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

👍😀

[@xcmtbrcr]

The lift assist takes a few seconds to reset. Give it 15 sec in up position and try it again.

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

My truck didn't have lift assist but it did have the lowering assist. Maybe it's called the same thing? Either way it never really worked well and just barely kept it from slamming down. My new 2022 truck tailgate comes down insanely slow. It's actually annoying how slow it comes down. But it also has the automatic up and down feature which I also find annoying. They make everything too complicated and built out of crappy parts so everything breaks!

[@jeffblehschmidt7188]

I can appreciate your efforts in making this video although that passenger side insert is not where the torsion rod inside the tailgate operates from. The drivers side is actually where that torsion rod is connected to. That is where the bushing/torsion rod attaches inside the tailgate. In order to get that bushing you will have to lay down some $50.00 at GM for the assy. Changing this assy can prove to be tough. (gm part# 25889564)

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

gotcha. my driver's side one has never broken, just this passenger side one, many times. But when I stopped buying the ones direct from GM and bought this aftermarket one, I haven't had the problem since!

[@jza80king]

That part number says it doesn't fit anything 2015 or up.

[@Troyfrankart00]

Watching you try to bend that gave me anxiety. Do you not own an adjustable wrench or vice grips?

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

lol yes i own both

[@MrFrankLozada]

They sell a small shock kit for the same price and works great Truck Tailgate Assist Lift Support Shock Strut Compatible with 2007-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2500HD 3500HD GMC Sierra

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

good to know

[@birdlegs846]

oh crap that's rusty for how old it is, you must live in the salt belt? Ever think of using oil to slow down the rust? My dad uses nh oil on the undercarriage, doors, tailgate etc on his 2015 Silverado and still looks brand new with no rust! I also use nh oil my 2019 Colorado, the stuff works. We live in Wisconsin and they drop a ton of rock salt and brine on the roads.

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

Yes I get it treated with Krown every year and it still does this. Krown is a disgusting oily mess that is sprayed on the undercarriage as well as all hinges and joints. They even spray inside the door panels! We have salted roads for 5-6 months of the year here. Everything rusts so fast...

[@birdlegs846]

@@BorsellinoHomeServices I came to the conclusion that these auto makers don't really want anything to last 10 yrs, they just want us to buy buy buy.

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

@@birdlegs846 DING DING DING!!! haha they are in the business of making their cars obsolete so you have to buy new!

[@user-vw9dm4yd1g]

Hey GMC, maybe, just MAYBE you could come up with a solution. This part has a 100% failure rate...$100K truck and a ten cent part that keeps failing....step up for gawd sakes and remedy this....

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

what do they call that? something obsolescence. they love that it breaks and most people go to the dealer to have it fixed while it's super cheap and easy to do yourself!

[@mikenoonantech]

Well, did it work?

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

it's been over a year and still hasn't broken!!! It's the longest one of these hads lasted me!

[@mikenoonantech]

@@BorsellinoHomeServices well good. I've got a "really good" warranty from Chevrolet on my truck. The tailgate is rarely opened, it's a personal use truck. Mine went out too. They considered thst "wear and tear". What? Say the engine goes out, is that wear and tear? These warrantys are a joke, and chevy needs to do some about this

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

@@mikenoonantech oh it is ridiculous. mine broke at least once a year but i use my tailgate a lot. Still, it shouldn't break that easily.......

[@OutlawChevy2]

Oh my God that was painful to watch!!!

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

sorry :(

[@zeroskater720]

I’m not convinced…. You shouldn’t have to catch it at the bottom of the drop

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

yeah it's a terrible design! but this one that i replaced hasn't broken since i did it. and the GM one's broke every few months it seemed

[@juslookinism]

Yea. that's not, not, it. LOL!

[@richardmannisto8331]

Bad

[@BorsellinoHomeServices]

absolutely a terrible design