Trunk Struts Exchange on a 2002 Suburban K1500

[Suburbian Suburban]

Hi Guys!

First, I want to excuse for my improvable English. It is not my mother tongue.

I own a 2002 Suburban K1500 and yesterday the "trunk lid" (or should I write the rear cargo door?) does not stay up anymore. The struts become "collector items". ;-)
Does anybody have experience in exchanging those?
I already found the parts, but I have no clue which steps are necessary to follow or better in which order I have to install them. Do I need special tools?

Any help is greatly appreciated by me and my neighbors who do not have to listen to too many curse words in German, if I know what to do ;-).

Thanks in advance,
Michael.

[57loboy]

The struts are usually held on by tension (it's a ball and socket type setup). I No special tools are needed - I use a broomstick to hold the gate up while doing it - do one side first then the other. Looking at the ends of the new structs should give you an idea what I mean by "ball and socket". Good luck.

[OKCSuburban]

if you will look at the new struts you will see a metal band going across the top of each end. Note the slots on each side of each end. I take mine off by pulling the metal straps off to release the ball/cup. They do not have to come all of the way off to be removed.

[Suburbian Suburban]

Hi Guys!

Yesterday the spare parts arrived and I exchanged the struts.
No major problem, if the little metal things get taken off first to make life a bit easier in removing the old struts.
Thanks for your advice.

I hope this might help somebody else saving some money one day.

Thanks,
Michael.