I've been noticing a clunk when I go over bumps now that I went back to factory exhaust. Apparently I couldn't really hear it over the DynoMax that I had on there before.

Anyway I confirmed today that it's coming from the passenger side tailgate hinge (The slotted one that allows easy removal). I removed the tailgate and the noise went away. Put it back on and it returns. I figured out that I can make the noise myself by lifting up the right side of the tailgate (while closed) and letting it fall. There's 1/16 or so of vertical play in that hinge so when I hit a bump the tailgate rises up then falls down. There's no play on the driver's side but there was a plastic shim in there when I pulled the tailgate off. There was no shim on the passenger side. Should there be anything on that side? Or do I need to make shims out of something?

I might try some ultra high molecular weight tape that I have at work to take up the slack and hopefully not bind the hinge.

 

The "hose clamp theft prevention system" might take care of it.

 

yep should be a plastic shim on both sides

 

I went back and looked and there was a plastic shim on the passenger side too. It just came off with the tailgate so I didn't see it.