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Struts for rear hatch...

A

at t 2d

Well-Known Member
I need to replace the struts that hold up the rear hatch. It is difficult to raise and slowly settles on my head when I am trying to do anything back there.

I stopped by the dealer and they told me that they are available in the color yellow only and are $123 each. I would appreciate any advice on why they might be in yellow (to make sure he has the right part) and if there are any other sources for these.

Thanks in advance
 
You can typically pick these up at the local parts store. Both the hood and hatch struts needed replacing back in '95 when I first bought my car with 43k miles on it. The hatch struts back then were about $40 each and I didn't understand why they were double the cost of the hood struts. I fully understood when we disconnected the old ones! A word of caution, DO NOT try to do this by yourself. That hatch and wing are quite heavy so make sure you have someone holding the hatch that can support it and replace one side at a time. You could use a prop rod if you have a good one but just make sure it doesn't slip. HTH. :cheers:
 
I think Napa do them with a life time warranty so when they go you can get them replaced for free I believe ...
 
I can't thank the people on this forum enough for the help you are providing. I am so glad to be part of the "family" now after wanting one of these cars since 1989.
 
If you must perform the job while alone, get a broomstick to hold the hatch open. Remove the defroster connectors first, then remove the two tiny 9/32 screws, but DON'T disconnect yet! Once they're out, lift the hatch as high as you can and move the strut off of it's resting area on the glass hatch frame(ensure that the broom stick is in place...THIS IS WHERE THE HATCH GETS HEAVY!). Do the same on the other side, let the hatch rest on the broom (in the trunk BTW), then go in the car with your torx socket and remove the insides and put the new one's in exactly in reverse.
 
fast400 said:
If you must perform the job while alone, get a broomstick to hold the hatch open. Remove the defroster connectors first, then remove the two tiny 9/32 screws, but DON'T disconnect yet! Once they're out, lift the hatch as high as you can and move the strut off of it's resting area on the glass hatch frame(ensure that the broom stick is in place...THIS IS WHERE THE HATCH GETS HEAVY!). Do the same on the other side, let the hatch rest on the broom (in the trunk BTW), then go in the car with your torx socket and remove the insides and put the new one's in exactly in reverse.
Click to expand...

The instructions worked like a charm. I picked up the struts at my local Advanced Auto Supply and had them on in no time. My 16 year old daughter now has a new respect for how much that glass weighs after helping me :)
 
Keep your receipt if you got the lifetime warranty. I got my second set free after 12 years of use. These replacement hood and hatch lifts do last much longer than the originals for some reason. Reminds me to get new ones for my boats engine cover... not as heavy as hatch glass but hard to hold that thing up with my head!!
 
Post from the past ... however one of my hatch struts (or lift supports) leak oil and need a new pair.

Any brand and part numbers? Been looking at sachs SG13003 but not sure if they have the provision for the rear heated glass thing ... can't tell for any brand if they do actually all options they talk about is with or without spoiler and with or without rear wiper ...

Anyway anyone bought some really good ones and can share brand and part number would be great ...
 
Tryed struts from NAPA and they failed within a week, so I went to ebay and found an excellent source. It is from Parts Highway or EcarOnline which is the same place. Got 2 new rear strongarm struts for 37.99 plus shipping.
They were shipped from marion south carolina. I think that is where they are made. Excellent struts.
 
TTA984 said:
Tryed struts from NAPA and they failed within a week, so I went to ebay and found an excellent source. It is from Parts Highway or EcarOnline which is the same place. Got 2 new rear strongarm struts for 37.99 plus shipping.
They were shipped from marion south carolina. I think that is where they are made. Excellent struts.
Click to expand...

I was looking at the strongarm brand and they look good (and are made in the USA) ... do you happen to have the part number still as I think there's three different ones depending on the cars configuration.
 
I think they are the one with the rear spoiler and wiper, they have on their web site, lets you put your car in there and tells right one for it.
 
Hey Jan, something to think about, but if you have the new fiberglass wing from hawks it is lighter. Now that I replaced my wing the struts are too strong I think. I wish I had only replaced one side. The hatch pops up rather fast now. just a thought. Good luck.
 
RatFink said:
Hey Jan, something to think about, but if you have the new fiberglass wing from hawks it is lighter. Now that I replaced my wing the struts are too strong I think. I wish I had only replaced one side. The hatch pops up rather fast now. just a thought. Good luck.
Click to expand...

That's a good point actually ... part number 4900 seems to be for spoiler OR wiper .... onlything it's 15 dollar more so maybe they don't sell that many of them :-)

Anyone use the 4900 or 4954 on their TTA with the fiberglass spoiler/wing? Any recommendation?
 
when I typed our vehicle on Parts Highway website the trunk/hatch lift supports come up as Strong Arm AVM-4632 not 4954? What's up because I want to order a set ... mine are too weak.
 
4954 has an extended length of 39.09 inches, it is the ones I have installed on my car, with no problem. Is also has electrical connections for the rear window defrost.

If you are looking at the one under trunk lid lift support #4632 it only has an extended length of 13.87 inches, that tells you it is way too short to work.

Look under hatch lift support for the correct one, for 89 firebird trans am GTA SE. I am using 4954 that works fine, but I think there is a more expensive one that works, it is probably more heavy duty. But 4954 works great.
 
I'll take your word for it ... but the website when you type in GTA SE comes up with #4632 ... I'll give them a call because I want to buy a set and if doesn't have the connections for the defroster then how can it be for our cars? Hopefully I'll be satisfied ... it's not about saving a few bucks I just want a set that works real good and will last.
 
Let me know your findings, as far as I can see we have two options:

4900 Spoiler OR rear wiper
4954 Spoiler AND rear wiper


I'm considering the 4954 at the moment but in no rush to order

TTA984 do you have the original spoiler/wing (rubber) still or do you have the glassfiber version?
 
My spoiler is the rubber version, I suppose it is the original. When I bought the car I got the spoiler painted by a body shop, otherwise it is in excellent condition.
 
By the way, I priced the same strut at local auto parts they gave me the same #4954 strongarm and they were all most twice the price.
 
Do these come compressed when new? Just thinking about the lenght if I get some when I'm out in CA next month to see if I can pop them into my suitcase (or not) ....
 
These are not compressed, they are about 40.5 inches in length. When I installed them I did it with the hatch all the way in the raised position. They are shipped in a cardboard box and individual in a plastic slip in container. By the way mine are holding up great, with no problems. Since they come in a cardboard box, I ordered 2 and mine were this way. You might be able to check them in as check in luggage someway, that is if they dont charge you too much. If they could be compressed it would probably be 10 to 11 inches shorter.
 
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