97 F250 HD tailgate hinge removal...

[rusty ol ranger]

How in the hell do these come loose? Mine rusted and broke and i welded it back togther a few years ago, but it broke again and id like to change it.

But they are star heads i couldnt budge with just a ratchet so i got a bar and bent the bit.

Also...can i heat an alumimum mirror post without messing it up?

 

[Snoranger]

For the tailgate hinge... Pull the tail light. You can get to and heat the “nuts”. (They’re probably not regular nuts, they’re probably those stamped plates.)

Yes, you can heat aluminum. Don’t get it too hot and melt it.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

For the tailgate hinge... Pull the tail light. You can get to and heat the “nuts”. (They’re probably not regular nuts, they’re probably those stamped plates.)

Yes, you can heat aluminum. Don’t get it too hot and melt it.

Didnt even think of yanking the taillight. Good advice.

...and copy on the aluminum. My mirror is loose and wont stay put but the bolt is stuck.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yeah, they're tight, and I imagine in your case rusted to heck (mine were even kinda mad when I adjusted the drivers side one), getting the tail light off should help to get some oil behind it or cut off the outside part of the bolt with a dremel or something.