Thread: Disco 1 Tailgate

Mine is a 1997 build Disco and it doesn't have any rubber or plastic around it and never has as far as I know.

The tailgate closes with a good solid thud and doesn't rattle. But I have noticed it sags a little, so when it gets closed, the dovetail bit on the door slides onto the bottom of the dovetail bit on the car, resulting in it kind of lifting the tailgate ever so slightly into it's rightful place - maybe this is what keeps it all snug.

I have never looked at all the adjustments possible on it, but what about moving the dovetail on the car out a little, and the one on the door in a little so that when the lock catches, the two dovetail pieces have a much more snug fit??? I'm sure you've probably tried all that though...

Try adjusting the "body side" rod. The one with the 8mm (?) hex. internal head in it. Slacken it a tad & you will find it can move. Open a window & try readjusting the rod inwards.


Nope, nothing around the dovetail. Just bronze to steel mating faces & it sounds as though it's not riding far enough up the ramp. The above should fix it.

when I havent shut mine properly I get THAT thud thud,, otherwise -- silence

Is that photo the right way round? I don't see how it could look like that as it should be on the LHS of the door opening with the wider part to the rear. Mine is yellow anodised metal - no rubber parts. The part on the tailgate is a plastic (I think) wear strip. I agree with 4bee - it sounds like the tailgate is not closing 'tight' enough allowing it to chafe around while in motion which may explain all the black bits you can see in the picture. Moving the pin/rod that the tailgate lock attaches to, further inward, may be the solution.

Mine rattled too when I first got it. It seems that the two pieces wouldn't adjust enough to get a proper fit, so I supaglued a small strip of plastic onto my anvil? to make it a snug fit when closed. Seems to fix the problem, though my one is plastic not metal....Chris.

Thanks for all the replies. I've already adjusted the locking pin all the way in and the body side of the dovetail is all the way out. The door is definitely closing all the way. I've moved the body side of the dovetail up so that the door is more firmly seated in it - see how that goes.

Paul

its not just a case of up and down......they had shims in behind to adjust the distance from the body as well.....

check that they are mating properly when closed.....
the D1s also had a problem with the bottom hinges.....i cant remember what it was exactly......
but i do remember changing heaps of them........if scouse reads this he may know what the problem with them was.....

Originally Posted by DEFENDERZOOK

....i cant remember what it was exactly......
but i do remember changing heaps of them............

sounds familiar---