The shocks that hold up my rear window/hatch open are bad on my car. I ordered the Strong Arm # 4309 gas shocks and they looked pretty easy to install. Once I finally got them from special order I opened up my trunk and it is not as intuitive as I thought it would be, or I am just missing the right tools.

Has anyone ever replaced them themselves before on a FD? If so, please advise on how to take the stock shocks off without breaking the car!!!

 

It's way easy to remove the stock struts. However, I hope you have good luck with those aftermarket ones, I've tried aftermarket ones and they don't fit or bolt on worth a damn.

The end that attaches to the hatch has a bolt "head", you just unbolt it. The end attaching to the body is held to the body with 2 bolts. Done.

If the aftermarket ones actually work, post up.

Oh, use a broom handle or something to support the hatch in the open position. It gets heavy fast.

Dale

 

The aftermaket ones do not fit well. I installed some and they kept popping off. I used a bolt and a double nut set up to fix it. I will post a pic for you shortly.

 

Hmmm.... Learning how to put pics on this forum.....

These hatch shocks came with a pin and bushing set with e clips at the bottom that do not fit. The plastic cover will not go over this set up or my solution. I used a plastic bushing (came with the shocks), some washers, a blot and two nuts to lock against each other so I could have some slack for the hatch end to slide easily on. It's not the prettiest but I've not had anyone notice. ( I would paint it black if I had to do it over again.) The other end of the hatch shock just popped right on. Total price for both was $26.

That yellow dirt which fell into the car while I was taking the photo is pollen. It was outside of the garage for 10 minutes! Sneezing season is here in New Orleans!

 

The end that snaps onto the ball isnt always easy to remove. The strut will not pull off of the ball. It isnt easy to unbolt because the hatch is in the way. If I had to do mine over again, I would cut the old hatch off from the ball, then unbolt it.

I suggest getting oem hatch shocks. They will fit right, work well, and last a long time.

 

on that note, were the FAKK do I buy OEM? I live in sweden and my shocks are bad, but haven't found any good aftermarkets and haven't found any OEM listings ... ? part number or a site you den get them from? =)

 

In the US, we all get parts from Ray at Malloy Mazda. I'm pretty sure he ships overseas, but it would make sense to find a source closer to home.

I'd start with a local Mazda dealer, but I'd also check the European forum and maybe some of the European message boards as well, and also talk to other FD guys in your country.

Dale

 

Not sure if this is helpful, but here are two diagrams that have the rear gas shocks for the hatch:

http://www.partswebsite.com/mazdapar...magecallout=11 (May have the part)

LIFT GATE MECHANISMS. Fits: 1993 Mazda RX-7 | Jim Ellis Mazda (Has the part number)

 

It is really just easier to order new from Ray or find some good used ones (I got mine from Fritz), but there is a DIY for the autoparts store retrofit. I believe this is the thread that shows it:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...emoval-899291/

 

Now found strong-arm #4309 on ebay

did you get them to fit RX7Fanatic04 ??

at the picture it looks to be right?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/StrongArm-4309-L-R-2-Rear-Hatch-Gas-Lift-Supports-Boot-Liftgate-Struts-/370918398800?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ARX-7&hash=item565c759b50&vxp=mtr#vi-ilComp
if so, that was a good cheap choise =)

 

I will post pics when I get them installed to let you all know the accuracy of them. Still stuck on the rear window bolt head...ugh

 

any luck with this ?? =)

 

Yes, it was completed and they work fine..I just changed out the Strong Arm bolt and nut with a sturdier one.

 

hmm the bolt and nut that in to th body or to the hatch?

 

So it fits fine ??

Plug & Play ??

 

I have good stock hatch struts for 57 shipped

The stock FD hatch is super heavy so aftermarket units could become weary in a hurry.

 

I used the original 2 bolts, on each side, to bolt it into the car...the part that was switched out was the bolt to the actual shock and added a washer and a nylon nut. I'll have a picture up sometime this week...hopefully it will make it more clear.

 

yeah pictures often clear the picture in my head

 

bump! any pictures coming? =)

 

Pictures attached..sorry for the delay, my camera broke.

 

now finally I got my pair of Strongarms delivered... started yesterday whit it... and as you Fanatic, I decided to go with a nut and bolt instead of that **** that came with the struts

pretty much a direct fit, took about 45minuts including looking for tools and finding nuts and bolts.

 

Are these aftermarket struts holding up to the weight of the stock hatches?

 

Well I can say so much as that my original struts arent bad, only the wing monted, an old knightsports, is making the hatch a bit heavyier...

So from time to time the hatch just drops.. And sometimes it stays open for a couple of minutes...

But now with the strongarms, the hatch opens it self when I pull the leaver... They totally manage the weight! :-)

 

I wonder how well these would hold an APR GTC 300 wing?

 

I concur with Wolf, I haven't had any issues with weight at all. Now its time to find some hood struts and a new aftermarket hood (with vents) that actually fits perfectly.