Hi all. I have an issue with a lower tailgate support cable. The cable itself is fine but where it connects to a metal ball connection it keeps slipping off and retracting back in. This is only on one side and on inspection it looks like something is missing from the connector. Anyone else had a similar issue or know of an easy fix. Many thanks
Pawl
Well-Known Member
I'm guessing somebody has managed to lose the spring clip that should hold it in place .
I doubt that you can buy the clip seperately as a new part as it's just part of the cable assembly.
You might need to get somebody to make something as suggested by lynall or found a replacement secondhand part from a Discovery breaker.
I'm not familiar with the D3, but does the other side of the tailgate have the correct part fitted ?
There appears to be a photo of what I think is the correct part here. It's the 4 th photo down.
http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/guite-replacing-lower-tailgate-spooled-retaining-cables-156197.html
I doubt that you can buy the clip seperately as a new part as it's just part of the cable assembly.
You might need to get somebody to make something as suggested by lynall or found a replacement secondhand part from a Discovery breaker.
I'm not familiar with the D3, but does the other side of the tailgate have the correct part fitted ?
There appears to be a photo of what I think is the correct part here. It's the 4 th photo down.
Pawl
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure the epoxy would retain the cable over the ball.
Short term I'd imagine even a rubber band fitted over the ball before the cable end was fitted & then wrapped over the cable end might work.
Your idea of buying another cable to get the retaining clip would work, but would be an expensive solution I think. The clips are removable - as you've found - lol.
A second hand part would be ideal if you can find one.
On many Land Rovers, gas struts are used to control the opening of tailgates & bonnets & they all use the same sort of clip to retain them to a ball joint as your cable. They're often replaced as the gas strut leaks & loses pressure - creating a spring clip that you need & a scrap gas strut.
Can you measure the bit of the cable end area where the clip should fit over ?
If its approx 15mm across, I have a couple of redundant clip off struts I've removed (but still have due to a hoarding problem - lol)
You can have them if you want.
Short term I'd imagine even a rubber band fitted over the ball before the cable end was fitted & then wrapped over the cable end might work.
Your idea of buying another cable to get the retaining clip would work, but would be an expensive solution I think. The clips are removable - as you've found - lol.
A second hand part would be ideal if you can find one.
On many Land Rovers, gas struts are used to control the opening of tailgates & bonnets & they all use the same sort of clip to retain them to a ball joint as your cable. They're often replaced as the gas strut leaks & loses pressure - creating a spring clip that you need & a scrap gas strut.
Can you measure the bit of the cable end area where the clip should fit over ?
If its approx 15mm across, I have a couple of redundant clip off struts I've removed (but still have due to a hoarding problem - lol)
You can have them if you want.
