Sealing tailgate hinges
 

Hi all

I could improvise something on this one, but thought I'd check first to see if others here have a tried-and-tested solution...

The estate tailgate hinges are leaking water around the rubber seals. It's made worse by the fact that when I re-fitted the tailgate this summer, I had to use spacers and washers (on the body-side of the hinge) to lift the tailgate so it fitted better (the hinges may be sagging a little).

But consequently, because the hinges are several mm higher now, they are no longer sitting flush on the body, compressing the rubber seals.

I'm after a sealant which won't be a mess if I have to undo the hinge in the future (say to fix a broken wire).

Any suggestions?

John

You need to refit the tailgate.
Make sure the part of the hinge that bolts to the tailgate itself is properly secured. There is a "leg" on it and a bolt that secures it, hidden under the rubber seal.
Clean up the roof and the gasket that the hinge sits on. You'll need a non setting putty... "plumbers mait" (not silicone) to seal the holes in the roof where the bolts comes through. Don't tighten up the bolts yet.
You need to put some packing where the tailgate closes onto the lock, I used some folded cardboard and a bit of trial and error as you want a nice smooth closing action without the tailgate rubbing on the lock as it closes. When you're happy with it, keep the tailgate closed with the packing in situ and tighten up the roof bolts. Remove the packing and you should end up with the tailgate closing correctly and the hinges sat firmly in the gaskets.