hatch gas strut remove replace
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 336
Likes: 2
From: Redmond WA
hatch gas strut remove replace
I look at them and it is not obvious how to detatch them. I can't be that hard, if you have done it.
The aftermarket wing is too heavy for the struts, and I wanted to remove and put in heavier duty struts. Is there a gas strut out there that is slightly heavier duty than the stronger of the two mazda standard ones?
pax
The aftermarket wing is too heavy for the struts, and I wanted to remove and put in heavier duty struts. Is there a gas strut out there that is slightly heavier duty than the stronger of the two mazda standard ones?
pax
there are heavier duty ones that fit, but the little covers that cover the mounting brackets to the frame near the rear speakers may not fit on the larger shocks without some cutting.
The shocks wear out after a while. If they are the original ones, they are almost 10 years old. New stock ones will support your hatch just fine. If you are going to replace them, buy the OEM replacements. The aftermarket ones won't last as long.
Or, you can go "ghetto"!!
Buy a piece of 3 sided aluminum channel iron. Open the hatch all the way and measure how much of the "shock" is exposed. Cut a piece of the channel iron, and leave in the back of the car. Put it somewhere easy to get to, where it wont roll around. When you open the hatch, just slide the aluminum in. It will hold the hatch up nicely. Just remember to remove it before trying to close the hatch.
Or, you can go "ghetto"!!
Buy a piece of 3 sided aluminum channel iron. Open the hatch all the way and measure how much of the "shock" is exposed. Cut a piece of the channel iron, and leave in the back of the car. Put it somewhere easy to get to, where it wont roll around. When you open the hatch, just slide the aluminum in. It will hold the hatch up nicely. Just remember to remove it before trying to close the hatch.
Full Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 105
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From: Delaware
I bought struts from autozone for like 12 bucks or something. The oem ones are a rip off. There are too issues with the cheap ones: 1) they are attache with eclips. When I first installed them I used the eclips and as soon as the hatch started opening up the eclips shot off and the hatch slamed shut, once on my head. So I removed the eclip and the shaft and replaced it with a bolt and a lock nut. Works great and hasn't come off since. 2) as someone stated before, the black plastic covers no longer fit over them. I just took a black sharpie and colored all of the little shiny parts so that it wouldn't stand out. Looks good enough for me. and saved me over a hundred bucks.
