what is this?

[Bogger Man]

Yesterday I was swapping my junky, rusted tailgate out for a near perfect one that my bro' picked up for me. Any way I found that the latch mechanisms were different and the better gate had a small rod kind of "z" shaped coming up from the bottom to the latch mechanism. The junky gate did not. What is this piece for? This is the first time I have dismantled a blazer tailgate.
here is the new one installed

here is the part

he also scored me a good top and had the body guy at his shop refinish it for me

my son is currently using it for his garage!Sure wish I had a garage.

 

[mrayburnell5]

That looks like to me, like the spring that helps you lift your tailgate. IIRC it hooks to the original bumper through that braket into the tailgate.

 

[jt512]

That looks like to me, like the spring that helps you lift your tailgate. IIRC it hooks to the original bumper through that braket into the tailgate.

Correct , there should be one one either side.

 

[NV_K5]

it's like a torsion bar that assists in lifting the gate.

 

[Bogger Man]

cool, thanks guys.