Trunk Bolt Broke!!!

DurangoMomx4 · Feb 10, 2022

While doing a Walmart pick up the lovely associate manually shut my trunk after being asked not to. In the process of shutting the trunk, there was a loud snap & the trunk slammed shut. When I got out to take a look the bolt holding my trunk open had snapped & the piece that snaps onto the bolt also broke off as well.

The broken bolt is now stuck and I have tried numerous screw extractor sets to no avail. Any suggestions? The Dodge dealership wanted $75 just to look... Has anyone had any success with any other methods of repairing? Maybe welding the piece on? Also is there a replacement part for the bottom piece of the strut that i can place back on? I have included pictures for reference.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

LT.Raven · Feb 10, 2022

drill and extract, or welled a nut onto it

GTSDart340 · Feb 10, 2022

DurangoMomx4 said:
While doing a Walmart pick up the lovely associate manually shut my trunk after being asked not to. In the process of shutting the trunk, there was a loud snap & the trunk slammed shut. When I got out to take a look the bolt holding my trunk open had snapped & the piece that snaps onto the bolt also broke off as well.

The broken bolt is now stuck and I have tried numerous screw extractor sets to no avail. Any suggestions? The Dodge dealership wanted $75 just to look... Has anyone had any success with any other methods of repairing? Maybe welding the piece on? Also is there a replacement part for the bottom piece of the strut that i can place back on? I have included pictures for reference.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

View attachment 119801
View attachment 119800

It's a pretty common thing. I drilled mine out and had to weld a new one in, you may get lucky and have the threads come out. I wasn't. Once you get it fixed, replace BOTH lift struts. Lots of times it breaks because the non power strut gets weak and puts extra stress on the bolt. Yours may have been weak, and it finally gave up when the hatch was slammed. Good luck!

1949 International KB2, 302/T5
1968 Dodge Dart GTS, 340/727
2006 Dodge Magnum R/T "SRT Design"
2016 Dodge Durango Limited

thkbaron · Feb 11, 2022

Yup weld a nut on there. Also I hope you chewed on the Walmart employee. They should know about power lift gates by now. Now if it was an old caddy with the trunk lowering mechanism I’d kinda get it.

cambo · Feb 11, 2022

Preventative maintenance that will help to avoid this or help with removal of the broken threaded part. Get some penetrating lube and spray it on that piece that threads in especially if your vehicle is new. Keep it lubed up, that area gets very wet and salty if you live in the snow belt it will rust up and this could help it to keep moving freely. If the tailgate starts to lift slower or not go all the way up replace the non powered side.

LLSJSXT19 · Feb 11, 2022

cambo said:
Preventative maintenance that will help to avoid this or help with removal of the broken threaded part. Get some penetrating lube and spray it on that piece that threads in especially if your vehicle is new. Keep it lubed up, that area gets very wet and salty if you live in the snow belt it will rust up and this could help it to keep moving freely. If the tailgate starts to lift slower or not go all the way up replace the non powered side.

I believe that this is a auto close version, and the Walmart employee was asked not to close it. But I maybe wrong.

DurangoMomx4 · Feb 15, 2022

LLSJSXT19 said:
I believe that this is a auto close version, and the Walmart employee was asked not to close it. But I maybe wrong.

you are correct.

Durangodave66 · Jul 17, 2023

DurangoMomx4 said:
While doing a Walmart pick up the lovely associate manually shut my trunk after being asked not to. In the process of shutting the trunk, there was a loud snap & the trunk slammed shut. When I got out to take a look the bolt holding my trunk open had snapped & the piece that snaps onto the bolt also broke off as well. The broken bolt is now stuck and I have tried numerous screw extractor sets to no avail. Any suggestions? The Dodge dealership wanted $75 just to look... Has anyone had any success with any other methods of repairing? Maybe welding the piece on? Also is there a replacement part for the bottom piece of the strut that i can place back on? I have included pictures for reference. Thank you in advance for any suggestions. View attachment 119801 View attachment 119800

Going thru the same on my 17 gt just went thru 8 mechanic shop tryna get that thing remove…they can’t wield mine. they said I have to get the manual bracket truck shock like the right side because no one could get it out…

Trunk Bolt Broke!!!

DurangoMomx4

LT.Raven

GTSDart340

thkbaron

cambo

LLSJSXT19

DurangoMomx4

Durangodave66

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