Rear hatch gas shock mounting brackets

[Short563]

BTW thank you very much eganwh!

[eganwh]

Install complete. Hatch action is smooth and I do not observe any flexing of the brackets when closing. On to the next fix/upgrade.

[sheriff1]

Originally Posted by eganwh

mefly2,

Greetings from Billings, MT. We are hoping to make to your side of the state next summer for a week in GNP and maybe a trip through the Bitterroot Valley.

Threaded ball studs are due in today. Thanks Amazon Prime! So, I should be able to make it out to the shop this evening and complete the install.

What size threaded ball stud did you use? 10mm?
Thanks!

[eganwh]

Originally Posted by sheriff1

What size threaded ball stud did you use? 10mm?
Thanks!

Yep. 10mm.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[mefly2]

Thanks for the info ... we will have to make mods to ours to stop the excessive flexing...just want to see a TB in person, first.

[mefly2]

We have a spot for you - just south of Missoula.

[StagrLee]

Originally Posted by eganwh

the overhung bracket acts as a lever and puts expansive force on the attachment points (rivets). This is likely why all the rivets were slightly loose (stretched) on the upper brackets. She recommends redesigning the bracket – widening the base and re-orienting the ball stud direction which should put the bracket in compression and eliminate the lever effect..

Okay - when I read this last month it went over my head. The ball mount now points to the outside and not the inside of the hatch putting the upward force squarely into the center of the new bracket. Genius! Should be fixed forever with the extra metal in the bracket and ball stud.

Question for you, can you go with the shorter 1/2 long shank ball studs or do you need the 3/4" shanks. I see some extra threads coming out of the securing nut.

[eganwh]

Originally Posted by StagrLee

Question for you, can you go with the shorter 1/2 long shank ball studs or do you need the 3/4" shanks. I see some extra threads coming out of the securing nut.

Absolutely. Go shorter if using the same thickness bracket material. I wanted 5/8-inch length ball studs, but these were out of stock when I ordered, so I went a size (3/4-inch) up. At some point I will grind off the extra threads.

[mefly2]

Eganwh-

That is an unusual looking bear paw under the MT flag in your avatar ???

[eganwh]

Originally Posted by mefly2

That is an unusual looking bear paw under the MT flag in your avatar ???

Well, I certainly got a good chuckle out of that. Should be a decent game Saturday as they look evenly matched this season. Best of luck.

A state divided. Unfortunately, I live in a "maroon" county.

Go Cats!

[dickdawson]

I own a 2015 Eddie Bauer and the rear hatch brackets on the door have bent on both sides. Very similar to some of the other pictures on this thread. I am hoping that that someone that has fixed this in their Airstream can assist with some guidance. I have ordered some new brackets, but need help understanding how to best get the old rivets out of the bent bracket. I don't want to drill them out and find out later that I really screwed them up. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[JayleNBob]

I, too, own a 2015 EB and have replaced all four brackets since purchasing in 2016. I acquired the new brackets from Jackson Center while having the rear and street side awings added. I drilled out the original rivets and opted to replace them with stainless panhead screws on the hatch, and stainless steel bolts/nuts on the jamb. You might want to contact the factory and request the updated hatch strut brackets as they did make a change in them following the 2015 MY.

[dickdawson]

Thanks so much for the information. Hopefully, I can get the factory to send me the updated brackets. I bought some off of Amazon and they are now starting to bend too.