Broken dee zee tailgate assist

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breal201999

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I've had this assist on since shortly after I bought the truck about 3 months ago. Today, the ball that screws into the nutsert into the tail gate separated and now the nut will not thread back on. I called Dee Zee and they are sending me another installation kit in the mail... my main question is when I drill out that nutsert, is there a way to get that "mushroom" piece from the nutsert out so it's not rattling around in the tailgate?
 

clh1220

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Take the inspection plate off the tailgate.
 

stimpy433

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I'm on my second replacement lower ball.... they have great customer service just sucks to have to keep replacing it. Gonna try it with putting a nut on the inside instead of the zert next time.
 

PCT

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I'm on my second replacement lower ball.... they have great customer service just sucks to have to keep replacing it. Gonna try it with putting a nut on the inside instead of the zert next time.
They have GREAT customer service... but I had to replace mine about 5 times

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TerraNewf

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Sounds like a possible error while installing...
 

Burla

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I read the amazons and I still bought it, only 24 bucks if it lasts a couple years I will be ok. Sounds like they should just add a couple balls to each pack. A significant number don't last but many last a long time. It is likely an angle thing would be my guess, some must be out of whack even a little. Seams like the ones that break keep breaking. Amazons report the same thing.
 

sammon287

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I followed advice from a post in an old thread about this and ordered a stainless ball/stud from Amazon. It's installed with a couple washers and a ny-lock nut on the inside. Seven months with no problem and I don't anticipate any. Well worth a couple bucks for a permanent solution.
You can't reach the inside of the tailgate with fingers, so I held the nut in a combination wrench with blue painters tape to reach the bolt. It sounds harder than it is.
 

Hipps2000

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Thanks Boyd that seems the way to go...mine broke after about year
 

Ram Night

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I installed one of these assists on my 07 Ram when I purchased it new, and it was still working great when I traded it in for my Rebel two months ago.
 

xrsman

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I had this happen on my 2014 and was sent a new kit.

On the second kit somehow the ball bent after time and became loose. I ended up welding it to the plate. That did the trick! Lol

No issues with the kit on my 2016 though.

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breal201999

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Over the Christmas break, I took the 'nut spreader' install tool out of the new install kit they sent me and thought I'd just try if I could grab more threads on the part the ball threads into and sure enough I was able to turn my wrench a few more times to get some more threads for the ball to thread into and has held up so far. At least I have another nutsert if it fails in the future.
 

Quint

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The ball on mine just snapped off this weekend. I'm glad to hear about the customer service. I'll give them a call.
 

UnsatFC

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Mine broke the other week. Called dee zee and was told I have to call the shop that I originally bought it from to get service/replacement. I need a new insert and shock since that broke as well.

How do you get to the access port on the tailgate?
 

Quint

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I just called DeeZee and they don't just mail you another ball for free. You have to buy another "bracket kit" for $10 that is essentially everything but the shock. He said that the two years that I got out of that ball is about par for the course.
 

UnsatFC

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I had mine on for a month before it broke.
 

spencer1122

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i never even got mine fully working before the ball came loose and i followed directions to a T. i almost destroyed the shock when trying to remove it so DEEZEE is sending me a whole new unit. +1 for customer service. they are great
 

Sportman

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I haven't had any issues with mine yet. And their customer service was excellent when I had questions

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ocwill1

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I had a problem with the one on my F150 a couple years back, you can try the lock nut route, but I chose to drill and tap a new hole. Screwed it in with some loc tite and no issues
 
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