Rust on Gladiator tailgate?

[Newtopia]

Anyone else notice a rusty metal piece on the side of their tailgates? It seems to be slowly making the tailgate rust a bit. It looks to be a metal bracket that holds the tailgate cable in place. Both sides on mine are very rusty. Curious if dealer will cover or if I’ll have to buy new on my own, it’s part number 68335661AC, which is the whole cable but has the small bracket. Maybe I can remove the bracket and find a way to remove rust and paint and re install. Just seems like at 30k miles I shouldn’t have this issue.

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[4xjeepr]

Anyone else noticed a this rusty metal piece on the side of their tailgates? It seems to be slowly making the tailgate rust a bit. It looks to be a metal bracket that holds the tailgate cable in plate. Both sides on mine are very rusty. Curious if dealer will cover or if I’ll have to buy new on my own, it’s part number 68335661AC, which is the whole cable but has the small bracket. Maybe I can remove the bracket and find a way to remove rust and paint and re install. Just seems like at 30k miles I shouldn’t have this issue.

Figures, something new I'm gonna have to check on my JT. Thanks for pointing this out.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Anyone else noticed a this rusty metal piece on the side of their tailgates? It seems to be slowly making the tailgate rust a bit. It looks to be a metal bracket that holds the tailgate cable in plate. Both sides on mine are very rusty. Curious if dealer will cover or if I’ll have to buy new on my own, it’s part number 68335661AC, which is the whole cable but has the small bracket. Maybe I can remove the bracket and find a way to remove rust and paint and re install. Just seems like at 30k miles I shouldn’t have this issue.

CARPRO IronX Iron Remover: Lemon Scent - Stops Rust Spots and Pre-Mature Failure of the Clear Coat, Iron Contaminant Removal - 500mL with Sprayer (17oz) https://a.co/d/euquN3j

If you can separate it- spray liberally with this product. It’s usually used for iron contamination in paint in detailing. But this will work to remove rust from small parts…. Also works for rust on white countertops…. And pretty much anything that iron needs to be dissolved…. ???

 

[Hootbro]

If me, I would take the cable off put the end in either white vinegar or Evaporust to get the scaling off. Then I would treat the tailgate side as need and PPF the attach area and reinstall the cable and just learn to treat it with Fluid film ever so often.

FWIW, the tailgate is aluminum but it can still corrode once the paint is compromised.

 

[Newtopia]

If me, I would take the cable off put the end in either white vinegar or Evaporust to get the scaling off. Then I would treat the tailgate side as need and PPF the attach area and reinstall the cable and just learn to treat it with Fluid film ever so often.

FWIW, the tailgate is aluminum but it can still corrode once the paint is compromised.

My thoughts exactly, just annoying it’s a thing. I’ll update ya guys how it turns out

 

[Newtopia]

So got the rust off with evaporust. I was unable to separate the bracket from the cable due to a locking washer that I don’t want to break off. I can’t find a replacement one and don’t want to use one from hardware store that’ll just rust. So I couldn't properly paint the bracket this way; so to avoid future issues just went with fluid film for now, will see how long it lasts. It’s a T-45 torx btw for the bolt.

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