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Body Shop / Re: Hornet/ Concord/ Eagle liftgate hinges
« Last post by AMC of Houston on February 27, 2024, 08:36:14 PM »I posted this some years back - might be a good time for a repost.
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I've found that one of the root issues on hatch breakage is the rubber gaskets shrinking with age. Then the hinges start scooting around and "rocking" with use until they break (not to mention the hatch alignment getting way off - and sticking out at the bottom about an inch!). With dry shrunken gaskets, the hinges won't stay in place no matter how tight the bolts.
On my waggie (and a neighbors waggie) I've cut another "shim" gasket from thin rubber sheet to go under the original gasket and "tighten up" the hinge to the body. Now I have one of the few waggies with a properly-positioned tailgate hatch! I see repop gaskets on Ebay, but have not tried them (they look like just cut rubber sheet without the original AMC molded raised edges). If they are the correct thickness and durometer spec; they could work.
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I've found that one of the root issues on hatch breakage is the rubber gaskets shrinking with age. Then the hinges start scooting around and "rocking" with use until they break (not to mention the hatch alignment getting way off - and sticking out at the bottom about an inch!). With dry shrunken gaskets, the hinges won't stay in place no matter how tight the bolts.
On my waggie (and a neighbors waggie) I've cut another "shim" gasket from thin rubber sheet to go under the original gasket and "tighten up" the hinge to the body. Now I have one of the few waggies with a properly-positioned tailgate hatch! I see repop gaskets on Ebay, but have not tried them (they look like just cut rubber sheet without the original AMC molded raised edges). If they are the correct thickness and durometer spec; they could work.