Rear Hatch Strut Vehicle Mount / Strut Removal?
#1
Rear Hatch Strut Vehicle Mount / Strut Removal?
Alright, so I finally got tired of the rear hatch slamming on my head at inconvenient times. . . 'bought some mighty-lift struts from autozone.
My question is about the vehicle mount (pics below) -- how does one remove the strut from this? Must it be cut off, or is it something simple that I couldnt figure out in ten minutes with hand tools?
Many thanks in advance. . .
cd
My question is about the vehicle mount (pics below) -- how does one remove the strut from this? Must it be cut off, or is it something simple that I couldnt figure out in ten minutes with hand tools?
Many thanks in advance. . .
cd
#4
Thanks..
I'd rather not pay over $250 for what is otherwise less than $60 in parts...
I'll try sawing the strut off and then drilling out the mount to make room for the new mount/eclip the mighty lifts come with. If it doesnt work I'll return them then and decide if going OEM is worth it.
What a pita.
I'd rather not pay over $250 for what is otherwise less than $60 in parts...
I'll try sawing the strut off and then drilling out the mount to make room for the new mount/eclip the mighty lifts come with. If it doesnt work I'll return them then and decide if going OEM is worth it.
What a pita.
#7
Mr. Links
iTrader: (1)
https://www.rx7club.com/fdnewbie-archive-forum-190/gb-99spec-wing-equipped-hatch-struts-586218/
You might talk to http://www.rx7boutique.com/ to see if they can get them.
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#8
Success! Replaced stock struts with Mighty-Lifts -- A quick and Dirty Howto
Alright. . . .
Step 1 -- remove vehicle strut mount from stock strut:
Step 2 -- grind off the metal sticking out the back, so it is flush with the mount:
I used a Ryobi SawzAll equivalent with a metal cutting blade for step 1, after securing the mount to a vice, and an ancient Wissota bench grinder for step 2:
After you have it ground flush just 'punch out' the sleeve you just ground flush. I put it back in the vice and took an old drill bit and used a hammer to tap it out.
Your done!
Now you just have to secure the new struts to the freed vehicle mount using the supplied (at least my cheapo Autozone mighty-lift's came with mounting hardware) equipment.
It works great!
Quick video of my 'win':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feA5VA76CHs
I would also recommend that you acquire some washers, a can of black spraypaint, and a few rubber rings -- I did not have this hardware, but will be picking some up this week to tidy-up the install; to remove any 'shine' from non-black interior parts, and any rattling.
Hope this helps someone; I suspect even if you did not have the tools, you could buy them all (possibly used) and the mighty-lifts, or the Stabilus ones Adam linked to above, for less than what the OEM replacement ones cost.
Cheers!
Step 1 -- remove vehicle strut mount from stock strut:
Step 2 -- grind off the metal sticking out the back, so it is flush with the mount:
I used a Ryobi SawzAll equivalent with a metal cutting blade for step 1, after securing the mount to a vice, and an ancient Wissota bench grinder for step 2:
After you have it ground flush just 'punch out' the sleeve you just ground flush. I put it back in the vice and took an old drill bit and used a hammer to tap it out.
Your done!
Now you just have to secure the new struts to the freed vehicle mount using the supplied (at least my cheapo Autozone mighty-lift's came with mounting hardware) equipment.
It works great!
Quick video of my 'win':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feA5VA76CHs
I would also recommend that you acquire some washers, a can of black spraypaint, and a few rubber rings -- I did not have this hardware, but will be picking some up this week to tidy-up the install; to remove any 'shine' from non-black interior parts, and any rattling.
Hope this helps someone; I suspect even if you did not have the tools, you could buy them all (possibly used) and the mighty-lifts, or the Stabilus ones Adam linked to above, for less than what the OEM replacement ones cost.
Cheers!
#12
Thanks guys!
Hotwheelz -- if you ever want to replace yours, I'd be more than happy to help. I suspect the total amount of labor involved is right at an hour, to remove struts, remove strut from mount, and re-assemble.
Let me figure out the 'tidy up' bits, and I'll let you know how much it costs in parts, but I can't imagine the whole project costing more thank $80, if you already have the tools.
cd
Hotwheelz -- if you ever want to replace yours, I'd be more than happy to help. I suspect the total amount of labor involved is right at an hour, to remove struts, remove strut from mount, and re-assemble.
Let me figure out the 'tidy up' bits, and I'll let you know how much it costs in parts, but I can't imagine the whole project costing more thank $80, if you already have the tools.
cd
#13
Cheap Bastard
iTrader: (2)
Coredata,
Once you cut off the end shown in the photo, you still don't have the properly fitted end on the strut. The ends should have ball fitments to make them operate as intended. What did you do to make it fit right?
#14
Well according to autozone the mighty lifts fit - they come with new ball joints to mount to the rear hatch, just remove the old (i think 12mm open ended wrench) - but from what i have seen the vehicle mounts only come pre-attached to the mazda struts, hence the effort.
The best way i can describe the stock vehicle mount is 'its a rod' - ill take a pic of what the vehicle ens of the stock strut looks like, maybe it will help my poor description.
I have, unfortunately, discarded the vehicle mount pieces that were cut off, but i assure you, there was nothing 'ball' about them, just thick tubes that are fixed in place the stock struts fit over..
cd
The best way i can describe the stock vehicle mount is 'its a rod' - ill take a pic of what the vehicle ens of the stock strut looks like, maybe it will help my poor description.
I have, unfortunately, discarded the vehicle mount pieces that were cut off, but i assure you, there was nothing 'ball' about them, just thick tubes that are fixed in place the stock struts fit over..
cd
#15
Cheap Bastard
iTrader: (2)
Its been a while since I changed mine out. The fitting attached to the car is definitely a ball. It looks like a small trailer hitch ball attached to a hex bolt. My fading memory tells me that the fitting on the hatch is exactly the same. Both of the ends on the struts snap onto the ball fittings. That is how the oem design works. The end fittings on the link I provided are like oem.
#16
The OEM strut vehicle mount on my 1994 FD, Touring, was not a ball-type mount; you can see it in the pics in the original post, and no matter how you go about it, the stock OEM vehicle mount cannot be re-used without cutting (again, on my '94).
I should have followed your instructions and returned the Mighty lifts and gone with the ones you linked
However, I was determined to use what I had in hand, and was successful (eventually).
I should have followed your instructions and returned the Mighty lifts and gone with the ones you linked
However, I was determined to use what I had in hand, and was successful (eventually).
#19
Out of curiosity I bought the Stabilus struts that Adam posted above; unfortunately they have the same vehicle-style mount as the Autozone's.
So in short, if you want an OEM-style stable vehicle mount, it appears that you have to buy OEM, or mod your original OEM mounts to take aftermarket struts.
Pic of Stabilus strut vehicle mount:
If anyone is aware of an aftermarket strut that comes with a compatible vehicle ball-type mount, or an OEM-like vehicle mount, please let me know; I'd much rather have struts that arent held in place by e-clips, but I still cant rationalize spending the money for what the OEM struts cost.
Maybe I'll ask someone to do some welding to eliminate the eclip, that might work
cd
So in short, if you want an OEM-style stable vehicle mount, it appears that you have to buy OEM, or mod your original OEM mounts to take aftermarket struts.
Pic of Stabilus strut vehicle mount:
If anyone is aware of an aftermarket strut that comes with a compatible vehicle ball-type mount, or an OEM-like vehicle mount, please let me know; I'd much rather have struts that arent held in place by e-clips, but I still cant rationalize spending the money for what the OEM struts cost.
Maybe I'll ask someone to do some welding to eliminate the eclip, that might work
cd
#20
EGTs of Doom
iTrader: (13)
I just finished installing my Stabilus struts that were linked in this thread, but my hatch does not open on its own. Since I have done all the cutting, grinding, and fabricating to make the OEM mounts work with universial struts, I am willing to go to Autozone or NAPA and get a stronger set of struts. What force rating do the Stabilus strits have?