STG Installation

STG Installation

WARNING: DO NOT USE THESE BRACKETS ON A WEIGHT-BEARING TAILGATE.  Installation of both brackets is highly recommended. 

Each STG kit comes with two thick plastic spacers, four thin plastic spacers, and stainless hardware. The hardware consists of two washers, two lock washers, and two 40mm M8 bolts. 

DO NOT use power tools at any step of the installation/removal process.

  1. Remove one of the tailgate cables by unclipping it at the top bolt near the taillight.
  2. Using a T45 bit, remove the cable at the tailgate by unscrewing the T45 bolt. Store cable somewhere safe.
  3. Remove the top cable bolt using a T50 bit. DO NOT use a T45. This bolt is tight from the factory. Using a T45 could strip the head.
  4. Prepare one of the stainless bolts by threading it on a lock washer, then a washer, and place it next to the tailgate latch.
  5. Place a thick and a thin plastic spacer next to the bolt
  6. Place the top T50 cable bolt through the circular hole on the bracket (NOT the slotted hole)
  7. Place a thin plastic spacer over the bolt
  8. Carefully thread the bolt into the stock hole by hand, ensuring you support the bracket so it does not contact your pickup. Thread the bolt entirely in, but do not tighten.
  9. Holding the bracket, grab the two plastic spacers you prepped and place them between the tailgate and the bracket.
  10. Put the M8 bolt with washer and lock washer installed into the slot from the outside of the bracket, through the plastic spacers, and thread, by hand, into the stock hole on the tailgate. NOTE: you may need to raise/lower the tailgate to properly get the bolt to thread. DO NOT force the bolt to thread. If you cannot get the bolt started, jiggling it while rotating it clockwise can help.
  11. Hand-threat the M8 bolt until it is just finger-tight.
  12. Before tightening either bolt, remove the opposite side cable by unclipping it and then unscrewing the bolt on the tailgate with a T45 bit. Store cable somewhere safe. NOTE: Some tailgates might not raise enough to unclip. In this case, raise the tailgate enough to create slack in the cable, use a T45 bit to unscrew the cable from the tailgate, and then unclip from the upper bolt.
  13. Repeat steps 3-11 on this side.
  14. Once all brackets are installed, tighten both bolts so they are snug. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN.
  15. Check and re-tighten all bolts as needed every 100 miles

STG Installation Video

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