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Home > Technical (L405) > Upper tailgate strut bolt snapped.

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Misha

Member Since: 27 Dec 2023
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 17

2017 Range Rover Autobiography 5.0 SC V8 Santorini Black

Upper tailgate strut bolt snapped.

Anyone had this happen? Seems impossible to get to for extraction.

Click image to enlarge

17th May 2025 3:08pm

noone

Member Since: 05 Apr 2025
Location: Florida
Posts: 46

How did that happen? How did you find out?

You should be able to take the tailgate off to extract it. 2023 L460 Range Rover SE P400
2019 L405 Range Rover ATB LWB

20th May 2025 4:29am

ss10

Member Since: 05 May 2025
Location: Reston, VA
Posts: 19

2014 Range Rover Autobiography 5.0 SC V8 Fuji White

I'm assuming thats the top side ball stud that goes into the body and not the bottom one that bolts on the tailgate.

Hasn't happened to me. That's a tough one! I have the trims off on mine to fix a sagging tailgate. There really is no access from anywhere to drill it out.

Looks like broken part may be recessed in the threaded hole. You may be able to use that to your advantage in keeping the extractor drill centered. Try the Alden Extractor Drill: https://www.zoro.com/alden-drillextractor-...i/G3176372 with one of those tite-reach chain drive gizmos that never work. You'll have to find some sort of through the hole 1/4 hex bit holder for the tite-reach.

21st May 2025 9:51pm

Misha

Member Since: 27 Dec 2023
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 17

Quote:
I'm assuming thats the top side ball stud that goes into the body and not the bottom one that bolts on the tailgate.

Yes exactly! I think the strut seized, and when I pressed the button to lower the lift gate, it was just enough pressure and torque from the other side to snap it.

I do have an extended warranty, so it's going to the shop for this. They ordered the new struts and waiting for them to arrive. They were a bit nonchalant about the location of the broken bolt. Maybe they know something I don't, or maybe they haven't grasped how inaccessible it is.

Worst case scenario, I'm thinking a hole can be drilled in the metal lip to give direct access to the bolt hole. Won't matter since it's under the trim. Since you have yours disassembled, would you say that's feasible without removing the headliner?

24th May 2025 3:55am

ss10

Member Since: 05 May 2025
Location: Reston, VA
Posts: 19

Yeah I think a hole can be drilled in the lip to get access. No need to remove the inside trim or the headliner. I'm not sure I would want that done to my car though. The channeling of water around the tailgate is already poor IMO.

On closer inspection there appears to be a rivnut in the body where the ball stud goes. Hard to see with the stud in place. I think grinding away the head of the rivnut with an angle grinder after masking the surrounding area might be the better solution. Then just install a new rivnut in the body.

I Imagine this is not an uncommon problem on the aluminum body cars. Good body shops probably have the right tools to get these replaced in tight places.

24th May 2025 7:14am

Misha

Member Since: 27 Dec 2023
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 17

Finally got this resolved by my mechanic. They did drill into the tailgate lip to get access to remove the bolt. Told me they used a grommet to cover the hole, and it al lists under the surrounding trim. Both struts replaced. Not a cheap fix, thankfully extended warranty picked up a good chunk of it.

16th Jun 2025 4:50am

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