WOW! Thanks for all the suggestions.

Just ordered this on Ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-2010-Ford-Truck-Tailgate-Cable-Pair-/270793992038?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f0c946766&vxp=mtr#ht_1379wt_969

 

 

Actually the support cable broke on the same side as my EZ Tailgate Assit.

 

That may have been what was pinching it.

 

I thought about that and had a look at it but can see how it would cause basically a steel cable to tear apart. The tailgate has always gone up and down smoothly.

 

Just like any piece of metal, bend it sharply at the same point time after time, it will break. A paper clip is an example. If the bend is not a smooth curve, even a cable will snap.

 

The EZ assist came with a small foam tube that you heat shrink onto the OEM support cable to help keep it from jamming between the EZ damper and panel side (next to the tail light). Wonder if that caused any of this??

 

These might be a consideration

http://dgmtailgatesupport.com/

 

According to that, it still uses the cables.

 

If I could curse on this thread I would because the cables I rec'd were short (21.125") even though the Ebay item description shows "2003-2010" in bold font.

Had to open a resolution case with the seller and dispute why they need to refund 100% of my cost including original shipping charges. This seller does not have the correct length cables for 2010.

Hey Kingfish, your right I had a much closer look at the area in question and that cable gets bent in half and pinched where the panel channel is when the tail gate is closed.

Just ordered a Dorman 38502 (its 23.5", correct length) from my local parts distributor ($19.19/cable).

 

Glad you found the reason. Hopefully you will be able keep it from happening with the new cable. As far as length, I expect that the short one was from a 2003, as the bed wall height (and of course tailgate height) was upped by 2" on the 2004 and up models. It definitely should not have read 03-10, 04-10 maybe.