Tailgate mechanism coming apart

[Earl Bay]

Hi everybody.
This is awkward.










Drivers side, this is what it should look like:




Obviousley the rivet has snapped and I assume the tension on the "spring" (mechanism) has caused the effect that the arm seems like or is bent.
No accident, I'm the second owner. I fear it will come apart sooner or later so I don't open the dam thing anymore.
I only discovered it because I woke up looking right into the gap of the cover.
I've allready heard that the attempt of taking the mechanism apart can lead to death. Seems like
I have no other choice though. Does somebody know where to get a replacement from? Has somebody ever taken apart the whole mechanism and can share some
tips? I'm really not looking forward to this...

 

[chad]

If you want a replacement one then John Deitchman is very good - he ships parts from Texas to Norwich and I think that he's just recently shipped a load more.

His email is : [email protected]