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OK on to my next Question ::smile::
I'm a Toyota guy. My first Frontier. Brand NEW 2017 SV CC LB 4.0 Bought in March, 3000 miles.

When driving on bumpy roads I hear a 'thunk' noise coming from the empty bed.
In my Toyota days I sometimes got almost the same noise from a 2x10 'loading ramp' I had back there for my motorcycles.
Only on this one the bed is empty. :serious:

I checked for something loose....spare tire etc.
Nothing.
Except when pushing prodding and inspecting the Tailgate, the passenger side is loose. Just a little bit at the top. The drivers side at the top is solid.
Also on the Passenger side - I can actually lift the unit up in its bearing at LEAST 1/2" :surprise:

Same when the gate is down. Drivers side fairly tight. Passenger side (with the gap to allow removal) has at least a half inch of up and down play..... (It doesn't come OUT unless at the right angle per instructions on how to remove it.)

It's obvious to ME this is what is klunking when I hit certain bumps :crying:
ALL the parts are there. This appears to be a design flaw....

1. Is mine the only one like this? Do folks out there know what I am talking about?
2. Does someone make a 'Bearing Kit' or shims or SOMETHING to tighten this up.
Kind of disappointed at this point.
:serious:

Hope someone can shed some light on this for me.
THANKS!
::smile::
Peter

 

[shift_RUSH]

Did your SV come w/ the VTP (Value Truck Package), therefore the factory spray-in bedliner + Utilitrack? If so, the sliding plastic Utilitrack bedrail inserts can create quite a racket when they slide too far aft.

Not sure about your tailgate observations, so can't be of much help there.

 

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UPDATE:

Thanks for the reply. Yes SV Value package... Sorry those plastic inserts in the floor channels aren't making the noise.

So I stopped by the dealer to check the tailgates on some new ones.
Some are dead tight on both ends. But others are loose like mine. And they seem to change with each open and closing....
After more inspection I realized mine doesn't have 1/2" of movement but it DOES have 1/4"-5/16". Certainly enough to make 'the noise'.

So at the dealer one of the service guys came out and saw what I was talking about. He duplicated everything. We even got the unit to make 'the noise'! ::smile::
He checked for Service Bulletins and found none....
We both agreed it was odd. And even other new ones were that way. Some had it worse than others. AND that we couldn't find ANY provisions for adjustment.

I thanked them and left - my plan being to keep looking at it......after all it doesn't do it constantly. Just now and then on certain bumps......:frown: And apparently it isn't a massive problem on these trucks.....But it sure DOES bug the hell out of me seeing as it IS a brand NEW truck.

SO: I decided to try my 'shim' theory.
And that is - to get something to take out the slop in the 'pivot bearing' on the passenger side.
Off to the Hardware store. I found some 1/8" sheet cork. Then cut a piece about 3/4" long x the width of the bearing.
Pulled the tailgate out of the slot and rested it on a tshirt on the bumper.
Then bent the cork into a 'U' and inserted it into the bearing shell.
Put the tailgate back in on top of the cork insert.
VOILA! Fit perfectly. AND No more play! ::grin::
I opened and closed it several times. Everything works normally except now there is NO extra up and down slop on the passenger side.

Took it for a half hour test drive on some nearby bumpy paved roads.
Totally silent!
Yahoo! ::grin::

So now I am going to give it the long term test.
Need to see if it wears out too quickly OR if it rotates in the shell and needs to be glued in....

All in all I'm pretty happy with my 'fix'.
Still can't believe others haven't complained. This is my 5th pickup over a solid 34 year span and NONE have had this situation. (I've owned 3 Toyotas, 1 Dodge Ram, and now this Nissan).

Thanks for listening! I'm still all ears
Wish me luck!
::smile::
Peter

 

[Tumblingdice81]

I as well have always had a squeak I can hear coming from the truck bed area. It's annoying but I only hear something when the windows are down and I drive through a neighborhood. Never dawned on me it could be the tailgate. I'll have to check that out now. I assumed it was where the bed met the frame, something related to that.

 

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I as well have always had a squeak I can hear coming from the truck bed area. It's annoying but I only hear something when the windows are down and I drive through a neighborhood. Never dawned on me it could be the tailgate. I'll have to check that out now. I assumed it was where the bed met the frame, something related to that.

Thanks for your comments!

Funny you should mention a squeak coming from the truck bed area. lol
I had one of those too!

I have a 6' bed and haul my dirt bikes around.
Even though I can't close the tailgate ALL the way it comes pretty darned close. Usually within an INCH of totally closing....
I have for years, and on ALL of my trucks, used a tie down hooked in the latch mechanism on the gate and to a sliding tie down cleat on the Utili-Trac system on this truck.
I pull the gate 'closed' by lifting the gate with my right hand while pulling the tie down tight with my left. Works great! Pull it tight and presto the gate stays snug against one of the bike's rear tires.

When I first did this on THIS truck I got a Loud Squeek from the drivers side tailgate bearing!
::laugh::
I would only get the squeak during this operation....(and ONLY when pulling it 'closed') NO other time.
I took the gate out and lo and behold the pivots were basically dry.....fresh from the factory. :surprise:
Of course a dab of grease to both sides and no more squeak.

My other situation was a 'Thunk'. Not a squeak. lol But best wishes! ::smile::


UPDATE on my cork shims 'fix' for the 'Thunk':

A. They work great! Solved the problem entirely.
B. As suspected, they aren't tough enough and have gotten 'mashed down' enough to be almost ineffective....after a month or so. :crying:
C. Looking for a tougher material - I have settled on a piece of common white PVC plastic pipe.
I found 3/4" has a wall thickness of 1/8" same as the cork and the correct diameter to fit the bearing shell perfectly. I cut a piece about 5/16" wide, same as the cork. Cut out about the top 1/3 of the circle (side view) to allow the pivot axle to go in and out.....
Again this worked great! Fits nicely. No more noise!
And the toughness testing is ON!

One side note.
I took the bikes to the mountains this week with the gate 'almost closed' as described above.
Guess what?
With the gate in THAT position, it is in the exact SAME position you align the gate to REMOVE IT!!!
:surprise: So that end is still free to make the clunking noise! :crying:
Good news is, I think the gate is SO heavy and that it doesn't bounce enough for it to jump OUT of its bearing even on maximum pounding when driving down the road.

Great fun. So far so good!
LOVE my truck. What a SMOOTHIE!

Thanks!
Peter

 

[ace028]

Can you take some pictures for us?

 

[Elloc]

Have you considered installing a hose clamp to prevent the tailgate from accidentally bouncing out when hauling your bikes?

 

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Have you considered installing a hose clamp to prevent the tailgate from accidentally bouncing out when hauling your bikes?

Yes. Not sure there is room for the hose clamp worm drive. Haven't looked seriously at it because I don't think it would ever come out unless I was hitting 50 mph over a jump like an off road truck racer! lol
Thanks!

 

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Can you take some pictures for us?

You bet! Here goes.
Haven't done this before. Wish me luck!
I put titles on the pics to help...

 

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5 more pics...
:surprise:

 

[ace028]

Awesome thanks!!! I need to check mine now to see if it has movement in there. I do have the ez down installed so it pushes the tailgate to the passenger side slightly so if the tail gate is closed, it has a larger gap on the drivers side against the tail light then the passenger.