Suburban Tailgate Glass fix

Squarebody Suburbans are known for the faulty back glass tailgate motors, wiring, and difficulty. A few years ago I installed a relay system to positively supply the motor with uninterupted power, while triggering the direction via the relay. Really only took a few hours on a saturday afternoon, to build a bracket, clean up the wiring and install the relays. This same concept is what LMC sells in a door window kit, so their kit could also be retro fitted as well. I used the relay wiring blocks from NAPA with the AR272 relays.
Good luck and hope this helps you.
BTW, we are removing the tailgate in the fall and swapping on barn doors...

[@scrotiemcboogerballs1981]

Your very handy I wish I had half the skills you got buddy thanks for the info

[@CavanalK5]

Very nice sir. I’m looking to do the same for my K5. Between yours and another guys video, I believe I can confidently take on the task. Always been hesitant to try it as parts trucks are getting harder to locate if I muck it up. Cruises through a couple of your other videos so now I’m a subscriber lol. Thanks for taking the time to make quality content!

[@goelat2267]

Anyone know how to bring up the window. Mine is stuck down and can’t seem to bring it up

[@fixitdanner]

Thank you, I have had issues with my k5 back window. I am going to do it to mine.

[@davecroft2991]

Found your vid today. I hope it's the solution to my problem. If so, I will let you know. Either way thanks!!!

[@scoutdogfsr]

The tailgate floor header and barndoor floor headers are different across the entire product years. It is fairly simple to cut the header spot welds but the installation of the replacement header is a bit critical for solid lock up of the doors and gasket alignment. I did this conversation to my 76 and regretted it instantly because barn doors made her look like a creeper van in the back. Big mistake. A month later, and a repaint of the rear and she wad back to original.

[@anthonyrichardson108]

Thanks for the input but I heard you talking about the barn door conversion please post that because I would love to do mine.... I have a 89 GMC

[@roughcutranch6764]

Planning on documenting the barn door swap, but it may be a year out,. Life has not been kind this past year and alot has been put on hold for lack of funds

[@thomsherwin7138]

I converted mine back to manual. I don't have your skills. Good fix.

[@anthonyrichardson108]

I tried the manual tailgate conversion but I ran into problems. The clutch wasn't long enough to make contact with window regulator please tell me what I did wrong???

[@thomsherwin7138]

@@anthonyrichardson108 You also need to buy the regulator for the manual handle. It is slightly different.

[@anthonyrichardson108]

I purchased all of the manual parts from LMC. But it's like the tailgate itself is just to wideand the clutch slides by the regulator an 1/8 of an inch. also the arms on the manual regulator are straight bot bend like the electric one , so its longer and wont go all the way up.

[@mr.sinaloa1760]

GENIUS, but how about for me 😅 mine is stuck down and I don’t know how to lift it manually without doing anything electrical

[@roughcutranch6764]

Mine has stuck in both up and down. By removing the tailgate panel, you can find the bottom of the glass and on either arm there are (2) 7/16 bolts that can painstakingly be removed. This will allow the glass by itself to be slid up and out of the way. Now the motor can be replaced if need be or you can trip the motor wires to see if the motor is truely bad. A generic replacement for the motor (with a little modification) is a Cardone 42-16 I have this motor for mine, but havent installed it yet. When I do, I will post up a video for you guys.

[@oscarwithano7974]

@@roughcutranch6764 my motor went out on mine so thanks for letting me know about the cardone. I will order & see what kind of modifications I need to do.

[@ryanderks7382]

Do your barn door conversion yet? I've got an 87 GMC suburban that's currently getting a lot of body work. Thinking about barn door conversion myself.

[@roughcutranch6764]

Not yet, sadly I have had no luck finding a home or shop building that is affordable. This is not a swap that can be done right in the driveway, at least not in the swampy southeast. Rained 1.5" just this afternoon.

[@longtravelgm]

Any tips on lowering the window when the motor is burnt out?

[@roughcutranch6764]

Pull the access plate, short well 7/16 on 1/4" ratchet or a ratchet wrench and you can reach up in the hole and unbolt the window from the actuator arms. Pull the window felts/seals and pull the glass out the top of the tailgate is down. If it isn't, drop the window down enough to get the gate open. Rubber door jams work well to hold the glass where you need it while working. Once the glass is out. Pull motor and actuator assembly.

[@BryMed86]

Were the relay wires also 10 gauge or were they 12 gauge then increased to 10? Thanks

[@roughcutranch6764]

The 10 was just to supply a main feed to the relay. All other wires were sized according to what the motor and switch wires required. 14 or 16 I don't recall exactly. LMC makes a kit for the front side window, the same kit could be retro fitted to the rear door windows or even the back tailgate window, as the concept is the same. 2 relays ganged to supply uninterrupted power to the motor off a key/switch signal.

[@Ashtonisugli]

What do I do I can’t get to my motor underneath the glass my button works and the power works all the way to the rear I’ve tried to manually pulled it out appreciate any help because I’m not the smartest lol

[@roughcutranch6764]

If the window is currently down. Drop the tailgate, remove the plastic or carpet cover. Remove the metal access panel. The glass will prevent access to the actual motor or linkage/arms. A 7/16 ratchet wrench can be used to unbolt the glass chanel from the tracks that the arm rollers track in. Once these 4 bolts are removed the glass can be slide to the up position or removed completely, allowing access to the motor and the tailgate switch.

[@theflashjaxx]

what year suburban is this, i want to see if i can use that direct drive motor to replace my cable drive k5 motor

[@horsingaround6674]

Since your doing a barn door conversion will you be using the original tailgate for another truck?, I ask because I would be interested in the electrical mechanism you skillfully fabricated to fix the power window issues that plaques these old Chevy trucks.

[@Iwatchthetube777]

Can I get a link to the wiring you used.

[@danielspangle8284]

How did you get the defogger man my wife would dig that in her burban

[@edwardharris7080]

Are you in need of Barn Doors?

[@roughcutranch6764]

not anymore, hauled in a Suburban a while back

[@fonhollohan2908]

Yep, the barn doors are definitely the way to go. Its the better set over the two. Nice fix though.