Tailgate Assist Update

[oreomuffin]

The R&D team at DeeZee is going to retest to see if they can replicate the issue.

Looks like OP has some scratching on the tailgate too - might not want to move it any farther out

The scratch on the shock facing outward is not from the tailgate...not sure where that is from actually.

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[rupzuk]

A button head screw should fix your issue, to bad the cylinder is already scratched but it can be touched up.
FYI: aftermarket bolt on accessories are rarely that. Expect to tweak, modify or down right reengineer many of them. I’ve found it more the norm than the exception unfortunately.

 

[FirstFord]

A button head screw should fix your issue, to bad the cylinder is already scratched but it can be touched up.

Was thinking the same thing. Cap screw is lower profile and it's rounded so even if it were to contact, it wouldn't scratch like that.
Being somewhat obsessive, I'd replace all of them so the one replacement doesn't look out of place.

 

[Decayed]

Angle grinder will fix your space issue in half a second. It's a truck. The bed is gonna get beat up.

 

[oreomuffin]

Not taking a angle grinder to a 10 day old car.

Also, all great recommendations but when it is shipped from Ford, it should fit without modification. I get when you get parts from other sources there are bound to be minor modifications needed. I don't plan on changing anything myself to make it work, just sharing my experience as the manufacturer comes up with a solution.

 

[Enderet]

Not taking a angle grinder to a 10 day old car.

Also, all great recommendations but when it is shipped from Ford, it should fit without modification. I get when you get parts from other sources there are bound to be minor modifications needed. I don't plan on changing anything myself to make it work, just sharing my experience as the manufacturer comes up with a solution.

I agree that you shouldnt have to be tweaking/"fixing" something that you bought that should work with this vehicle out of the box.

 

[Gabbydad]

Looks like I'm gettting a bit of that rubbing also. I've opened and closed the tailgate about a dozen times since the install.

 

[IslaDelDan]

Thanks for the great information. I just picked up the strut from Classic Ford in Galveston this morning. I plan to spray all iron parts with Rustoleum Rust Reformer and add a layer of Boeshield T-9 to top it off prior to installation. My build week is 11-22 so it will sit a while!

 

[Gabbydad]

BREAKING NEWS!!! We installed it wrong!! The barrel has to go down, NOT UP!!! Ha Ha Ha !

Thanks @James St. Patrick !!!!

 

[James St. Patrick]

BREAKING NEWS!!! We installed it wrong!! The barrel has to go down, NOT UP!!! Ha Ha Ha !

Thanks @James St. Patrick !!!!

Full disclaimer: my Father in law did the work. He likes small jobs like this to stay busy, and needed. Love this guy!!

 

[kmish203]

BREAKING NEWS!!! We installed it wrong!! The barrel has to go down, NOT UP!!! Ha Ha Ha !

Thanks @James St. Patrick !!!!

I know this is how the photo from Ford's website shows the strut, but don't the instructions that come with it show it the other way you had it originally? Wouldn't this position allow water to seep down into the strut?

 

[ColoradoShooter]

Take that screw that’s rubbing to Ace Hardware and get a similar thread pitch and diameter stainless button head bolt. Also get a stainless washer and your problem is solved for a few $$.

 

[Gabbydad]

I know this is how the photo from Ford's website shows the strut, but don't the instructions that come with it show it the other way you had it originally? Wouldn't this position allow water to seep down into the strut?

You know, that’s an excellent point

 

[BeachBum]

You know, that’s an excellent point

This was addressed in a previous post by the OP in this thread which also mentions that DeeZee stated that it's installed incorrectly on Ford's Accessories page.

I'm hoping there's some resolution from DeeZee as I was thinking about getting one. Maybe I'll just go the button head bolt route.

 

[Zumakalis]

I get wanting it to be good from the factory and that an angle grinder is overkill but it's barely scratching so why not just take a metal file and spend about 30 seconds to file the lip off the edge of the bolt and be done with it? You'll still be able to use a Phillips or socket to remove it and you don't have to spend any money unless you don't have a file.

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