Rear hatch window struts

[Iron]

the hydraulic struts for the glass above the tailgate won't hold up the glass. It's only done it recently so I thought it might just be the cold, but it was fairly warm today and it still does it. Does anyone have any ideas before I replace them?

[duke350]

It could just be one, but they are fairly inexpensive and pretty easy to change out. You might even be able to get a set at a bone yard for a couple of bucks.

[01shavedblaze]

After I got banged in the head by my hatch a couple of times I ordered some and wished I would have done it sooner. I think they were about $10 or $15 each from rockauto.com and about 5 minutes to replace. Worth it for sure.

[mike2004tct]

Head over to your local AutoZone/Advanced/PartsAmerica part store.

They just might have them in stock (They did for my 97).

Takes about 10 minutes to replace.

[Iron]

cool thanks guys

[Luka1]

This may be a rather unconventional 'fix', but it doesn't cost a penny, and will work for now.

Open the hatch all the way.

Now, by pushing gently, at the point where the rod enters the piston on the strut, bend them, very sligthly.

Best to do this in several tries, than to bend them too much, the first time.

If you bend them just right, the hatch will stay open by itself, and it will not be difficult to close.

Not enough, it won't stay open. Too much, it won't close.

[djd99]

Originally Posted by Luka1

This may be a rather unconventional 'fix', but it doesn't cost a penny, and will work for now.

Open the hatch all the way.

Now, by pushing gently, at the point where the rod enters the piston on the strut, bend them, very sligthly.

Best to do this in several tries, than to bend them too much, the first time.

If you bend them just right, the hatch will stay open by itself, and it will not be difficult to close.

Not enough, it won't stay open. Too much, it won't close.

There only 10 bucks each at advanced auto,Napa,autozone it's not worth the time to dick with them taking a chance to break the mounts on the glass.

[Luka1]

Originally Posted by djd99

There only 10 bucks each at advanced auto,Napa,autozone it's not worth the time to dick with them taking a chance to break the mounts on the glass.

If ten bucks is pretty much daily candy bar and coffee money to you, then you are correct.

If you are so broke that ten bucks might as well be a thousand...

And you do not adhere to the 'brute gorilla force' school of persuasion, in your approach to such a job, (Hence the word "gently" in my description.)...*

Then it is indeed worth the 60 seconds or so that it takes to do this entire job.

*If you ARE of the gorilla school, then you are just as likely to break the mounts on the glass, while replacing the struts, as you are, doing as I suggested.

I assumed a modicum of common sense and care, on the part of the reader here.

[junior7]

I can testify that it hurts when that glass slams down on your head.

[bozr]

I just replaced mine a few weeks ago. They both blew out on 0 degree day. I just used a vise-grip to clamp on the strut until my new ones arrived.

If you get them from Auto Zone compare them with one from your truck. For me, their website had the correct part number but their in-store database was wrong.