A vehicle body decklid hinge includes at least one hinge set carried by a bracket that retains a pivot pin and a retainer bar in a cantilevered manner. The pivot pin supports a lever, such as a gooseneck strap, that will be coupled to the hood, while the bracket includes a mount that will be carried by peripheral body structure around the decklid opening. The retainer bar carries a helically wound spring that secures one end of the spring for resistance to rotation about the axis of the bar. The other end of the spring engages an adjustor that variably urges the lever to pivot toward the open position. The method and apparatus reduce specificity of components and improve adaptably to various models and styles by reducing adjustments to tension variability in adjusting the biasing force applied to the decklid strap.

A tailgate counterbalancing hinge assembly includes a linear torque rod, a first end assembly and a second end assembly secured to the torque rod. A first end assembly pivotally supports the tailgate while permitting a torque rod end to be rigidly coupled to the tailgate for movement with the tailgate about a pivot axis. A second end assembly also pivotally supports the tailgate and permits the other end of the torque rod to be rigidly connected to the vehicle body. The first end assembly includes a bushing and split pivot body rotatably mounted within the bushing that creates increasing friction between the split pivot body and the bushing as the torque rod is twisted due to the tailgate being opened. The increasing friction creates a progressively increasing braking or dampening effect, which slows the free fall of the tailgate as it is opened.

A method and apparatus for coupling a liftgate panel on a vehicle body for pivotal movement along a path between open and closed positions. A mounting includes hinge sets formed from two hinge leafs, at least one torsion rod extending through aligned pivot portions on each hinge set. Preferably, each hinge set is integrally formed with a common torsion pin by retainers holding ends of the torsion pin with respect to one leaf of each of the hinge sets. In a preferred embodiment, a return bent end of a common torsion pin is received in a first leaf of one of at least two hinge sets, while the other end of the rod is return bend and retained in a second leaf catch that receives an arm throughout a limited portion of the liftgate path between closed and open positions.

A method and apparatus for coupling a liftgate panel on a vehicle body for pivotal movement along a path between open and closed positions. A mounting includes hinge sets formed from two hinge leafs, at least one torsion rod extending through aligned pivot portions on each hinge set. Preferably, each hinge set is integrally formed with a common torsion pin by retainers holding ends of the torsion pin with respect to one leaf of each of the hinge sets. In a preferred embodiment, a return bent end of a common torsion pin is received in a first leaf of one of at least two hinge sets, while the other end of the rod is return bend and retained in a second leaf catch that receives an arm throughout a limited portion of the liftgate path between closed and open positions.

A tailgate counterbalancing hinge assembly includes a linear torque rod, a first end assembly and a second end assembly. One end assembly pivotally retains the tailgate while permitting the torque rod to be rigidly coupled to the tailgate for movement with the tailgate about a pivot axis. The other end assembly pivotally retains the tailgate and permits the end of the torque rod o be rigidly retained with respect to the vehicle body. The assemblies are easily mounted in the vehicle using brackets that are secured to the tailgate and a vehicle body hinge pin to simplify installation and repair of the assembly.