FB hatch pistons
 

Hey guys. New RX-7 owner here, just purchased the pictured car, an '85 GLS. Just learned to drive stick, and I love it. However, there is one issue. The pistons for the hatch don't work at all. I assume they're at least supposed to keep it open, maybe pop it up (getting it open is pretty tricky when there's only a little .5" slot to put your hand in for a grip). Is this something that can be fixed?

Whack your hand with a Rolling pin..and then you can slip it between the glass and the car!

Seriously though,it really falls into the category of old parts wear out and need replacing..(you can get aftermarket,search for that in the 1st gen specific section for info).My car I used a flat screwdriver,even a quarter, to open the hatch until I got newer struts.

Ahem..some things just can't get it up like they used to..when they get older.....(Mabel..is Archie Bunker on TV yet???)

Alright thanks. Ordered a pair of shocks from mazdatrix so hopefully I won't need to contort my fingers anymore while balancing all my things in the other hand. They should lift the hatch all the way open once I push the lock button right?

Just got them in, and there seems to be an issue. I've got the rear wiper and heated window, and wiring for these is routed through the right piston. Is there any way I can get the new strongarm pistons in while still being able to use my wiper and heater?

I had the same problem about a year ago with my 85 I jus ordered the parts off black dragons site they work fine and where prety cheep I payed like $40 for the set I think

Hmmm got a Little confused there...
Putting pistons in a rotary :)

Yeah, but the thing I'd like to still be able to use my rear wiper and de-mister, and the wiring for both of these goes through the right shock. I'm not exactly sure how I'd go about replacing them while retaining the functionality.
Nothing wrong with a couple pistons here and there... :gwink:

Can't help you there mine dosnt have the wiper or defroster who needs those anyways ;) I jus scrape it off when needed but then agian I live in texas and don't drive it when it's cold out

I didn't even think of that. I'll have to check that out.

Well I don't need my wiper because it likes getting out of the usual area and starts to go over the body of the car instead, possibly ruining my paint. Maybe I don't need the defroster either, I'll have to see.

Well I've had absolutely no luck removing the wired piston. Left one swapped out just fine, but this one doesn't have the same snap for the swivel, and the end of the shaft doesn't seem to be threaded. I'm at a loss here.

I had the same problem, but I found that with just a new left one, the hatch would stay up, so I didn't replace the right one.

Can you post pictures of the issue? I have rear defroster but no wiper. I replaced my hatch struts about a month ago and mine came with instructions on how to handle the wiring for the wiper and defroster, but I didn't need it.

On a related note, make sure when you swap them over, you keep the old hardware. When I did mine, the little attachment points on the ends of the new struts didn't fit, so I had to reuse the old ones.

The wiring does not run through the piston. From the factory, the wiring is held against the piston by basically a sheet of shrink wrap plastic.

When I replaced the wiring, I used cable ties to hold the wires against the piston (pending a more stock looking alternative).