Hi there. I have a 1989 Range rover classic fitted with Aluminium top tailgate. Anyway. The seal on it was buggered and so I bought a new one and can't get it to fit on right. Even after shaving the rubber blocks down with a grinder it STILL won't let the tailgate close. Also, the tailgate always seems easy to pop open even after constant adjustment.

Should there be a seal retaining srtip on the top tailgate and if so, how do I fit it?

Also, finally should I replace this with a steel one or what should I do?

Help much appreciated.


Alan

Hi Alan. I fitted an aluminium top tailgate to my 1989 classic last year. I got a seal retaining strip with it and I riveted it to the tailgate. It was easier for me though because i was moving parts straight from the old tailgate to the new one, it was easy to get everything in the right place. I did have real problems adjusting it, have you adjusted the bars between the lock and the catches either side? I know the right catch should click first before the left. I had to get the right one working before the left did. I adjusted the striking plates the catches lock to. Also is it high enough? I spent ages pushing mine up because it was just low enough for the lock to catch on the lower tailgate, stopping it shutting properly. I think you can adjust the top hinges from under the headlining at the back. Basically it was a total pain in the arse mate. The good old British Leyland body assembly and panel alignment mean that no two Classics are quite the same! Good luck with it. Don't get a steel one though, too many rust problems.

Also i think the aluminium ones are a bit more flexible than the steel, mine'll shut with a slam but i usually push the right catch shut first followed by the left.

Thanks for the help. I seem to have partly succeeded now in the fact that I now have the tailgate opening and closing 98% right (prob as good as it's gonna be)

All I need to do now is fit the bottom seal. I think the tailgate will need to be raised up slightly and I have it slid up the hinges as far as possible so I see the headline having to come down a bit to do this. Is this a problem?

Also, I definitely need the seal retaining strip. Is it the only bit that holds the seal in?

If so, the dealer has it for £15 so I suppose thats ok.

Thanks

Alan

98% sounds about as good as it'll get! Don't think headlining will be a problem, not done it myself but should be easy enough. May be another thread on it here somewhere.

Seal retaining strip is the only bit that holds the seal in. At the two ends the seal flaps about (the retainer isn't the same length as the tailgate). On the original it was glued at the ends, so that's what I did.

I've had a few problems with the tailgate on my classic recently,was getting hard to close as the catches kept poping open,then i noticed the pushbutton was sticking in and releasing very slowly.once i'd freed it of it was fine again.