Hey everyone!

I've got a 1999 Cherokee. The support arm for the liftgate on the right side has started popping completely off of the ball/bracket that attaches it to the liftgate. I popped it back on a few times and it'd work intermittently but now it pops off every time I try to close the lift.

I took a picture of that right-side bracket and it looks like it's missing something when I compare it to the bracket on the left side. Does anybody know what this part number is? Any other insight on what went wrong? Thanks in advance for any help!



Right side bracket, needs replacing?

Left side, working fine...

 

I don't really see anything missing on the bracket, although maybe bent. Is the ball loose? It looks like the top of the strut has been hitting the plastic. What's the top of the right side strut look like?

 

Yeah, the ball is super loose. On the right-side, the back of the ball has what looks to be like a small black metal piece or something? The one on the left doesn't have that piece.

The damage to the plastic is from the top of the strut slamming into the gate when it pops off the ball and the gate drops down.

 

Here are some pics of the top of that right strut...

 

time for a new ball and strut I would guess. I,ve had to do mine.

 

Maybe so... I'm just wondering if I can replace the ball without replacing the strut, because the strut is fairly new.

 

IIRC isn't there a clip on the strut that need to be released/removed when putting it on the ball?
Pretty sure I see it on the strut in the one picture.
Not noticing anything missing on the mount but it does look a little bent.
Also I think you have them in upside down.
I would have to go look at my Jeep to be sure.

 

If the ball is floppy, that's probably why it's popping off. If you have a friend with a welder, they could tack weld it on the backside. You could probably walk into a weld shop and they'd do it for a coupla bucks too.

I'm also thinking the upper part didn't originally have a ball, and looked like this:
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/4000381919454.html

 

Buy a new ball ,there cheap. If it doesn,t work buy a new strut . Look inside the strut and see if the socket is damaged . Mine was scored from popping off and would work for awhile but now your damaging the the new ball. Put alittle grease in there as well.

 

Good call on the grease! I'll do that for sure. The inside of that socket is definitely roughed up a little bit.

Do you know what that ball part is technically called? Do you know where to order one?