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General Forums => Technical Archive => Topic started by: Jeffy on January 01, 2019, 07:37:52 PM

Title: Replacing the Hardtop Gas Struts
Post by: Jeffy on January 01, 2019, 07:37:52 PM
Nothing is quite as annoring as a saggy lift gate.  I've had to deal with it since I got the top in 2003.  So here's a visual guide on how to replace the struts.  They're cheap too.  I think the two I got were under $30.

This is as far as the lift gate goes.  Well, it goes up further then drops.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2TrEkPnwBhtMwpXCuSKuLeKNK7SZHCTvPH7uIp0QOp424o-ov34TPkJ_bgzDM-01yROGl9KZftv3-TB-MLz0O8D16AMVbNbSTEkAfichxMPLFmBGdO11CjWuusLoataPw-AHnNzyy4ge6ycTTgPOS47peTq5u1CBfaAIoahi45M9liViDbbRAd8aR9q8bwyQaIHa-zKNVbDynhOHrHcEGoEi1eH_FKTo6p_Tzq95YkYEeBJsXGvtxJMrxeNaLcDJkfFI0wUrh1YePG-uV4ZzVugSG7tbr9bUd4kb2vktN41d1-83w1bUkd9Vh_Sjz0YlSselZkdlSQEB523IsWyILQ-Jl1AbFu_RYf80bHV9Df-ZrLnrJ0b6Ttbpzro5_-g3OjFVak6kE9bOqpRE7SwuwOKt8k69vYvavClj5WIGvvXbcKG8tRkEKljHnLGAEFhXFcjGAVHFgdGkU0Nc9lyAof3b3VAFvU6h9cTOHKTaW371TGUH2H199lOt-jf3HsvMsSQXMAsgnQ85yzSqxMeZpAM3rlJ6NmpXdmaH9FQlhthO3YYzTVfrl4g8A2XpJudLybacpZoyTdg6rbRUWucoZqBmUQz7EnuLo2kRVM7XO_g1EcQ-fiMyVtOLE6csSRlJxSc1OWJQN7CLT5db4X0UrdMp1tX8FaYsDpoVNV5sx-bQQfAH8UAuguVUbPBipIYLuytroV3iUL9ZmQlWTBM=w973-h730-no)

If your top had rear defrosters you'll want to make sure to get the struts with the wiring tabs.  To remove the struts place a screwdriver into the slot under the metal band.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/e_pgXzPmKEKa2oNPZjirvfHCoKubX3Zljc9eXkhgz6i-WAjXPkijudPNQO5JJb8VXLwjBXfvZO1P-uv57z0SyEGRlvCqyjdFC5VcCnzn2Hc_qMa39fzLAUARFUFVnp0JZzzphj6PWizEw-ymKsi0CE-bqFLjSaFC9EBlGkkXUMGfnzTvznnbC4GNiTGevtbIoJ-4FEVt4FfXWHK8-Q8YS8dutO7RWrXgtghzzh5pBe2HOU-cIgAn2FY8T8R2oocoQlMj1cZIucWROgTmMnKj6EHL0Q_RnJsqBWdCICC7qElzy2J2VH1Wf8I2EMIpVU9lYn3ceG5Y7FwQ-ACj64q-D0LHS8VNI0n5XlLh3tPkNq6i3MR8-MTcEVfBXuIl1Hgty5yy96hOKdOSe25XKgYYW385Ev_bLDu6Zh2j5A_ONvpCWvJ6ryO6R9o7jn_IxrS-_eWYMw2Rq-9MfZA6KKvenh7q9BewxkqRjdhd6yENBGHx84qp0xccnIb9o8qscBf8DQ025va77LfqDpo4x__2YECm7b20WFoEPZZGy_FpqrtViJWXBxllUfmv_iuux1e5vrWQ2xG8ljfryBohkDd3XriG6aO1Ng1fYvSJhz9x35rX2szsBZmRjUG3LUn9s079sdmtgAkJItTag1IrEmiK_fIGIrhdpRMA3HciRacRDiB5tJVKWRpWNei348_Vz2zhFzYTFYaTzEswi2XeP5Q=w1218-h913-no)   

It doesn't take much to release the strut from the ball socket.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0AYG1BYrhfVXnlpekLD8GPXc46rsRLJLz6qLWmXFH_e2oLkL0BuDR56AFxxShMKOOUc7XzlNOHiLywiAX1wR3bimMD7tUuiM9ZDpLbXsLZIV41s9_oRzq7MaY2YiW1maQaVHC-Fymsu1meTtoaCmvr7TgYpkAfqLYEwYwALvBG-ldtzc4lMe0Q94MDKE7csVEdKhF6V-QHh4mp0oLLbpYIkZlFQRGlZSP7i3A8lli9FmN-kQc1y4XFN3ArAgcM-nvAlLbwPgZ88KGsUWvH-sVqo_ksfTE8J5csFt-12jU-jSpx1K7qozG8Rb0nqZr_ZLYHhx-pDyEeQzsTCte5cbdf7GrnamGwloAafNc78HPXJyA-V0O49cPw7nAWLgy_EoG6_bciFMs-VutNb8udjU5cRUBo8HCimGDiv4znqxoBTr7oGLOuiZixYnTq9S-G1YiwU6n3upmoY5WhkBDHyhBD-f-A9feKMViX7Gz9tJmpqsUtnGsfq2lp8EjLfNwAdB4U8ih2si4oqAagtIn_ooLhtJSevG7LlfyRHaaq4cZbe6sAzmxwqxl131KbEKbtmCTctWLos25CsPhVEhOk1qfMZzUTz8ilzJjHEl8BJs0vSewArFEs_t8BbzQoi6HUDDll_n_QGc10Oz4zs2LUnS4s77fkN2YjgGFpp_bdll8TxRIPg8SLzQTwhKo-Nn1BFjjxeQzC-jOgd9Wkkvc-s=w1218-h913-no)

Just be careful when installing the new struts.  They are very strong and can get away from you.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xaD0tQ4WCtnLXu4NpT1mU5XQh3YN-S26CX7g3R8ShrzVIntYUzfdUWf8htS28Jpdly7-7Q6NetmBU-lmNLX0W49XmXzoiSCIbMyYQxDcPw24AhtD6kl8LDobCyPkG8pVinOziGgyd0EM2LZbwi68biqq3pH0NcnSVP_sqL0n3fFlu2RDJMeS-0tVvS5BpVUlK_iW1vN5V-DVZkbFEPDyOcANalsBq9HDZaepNX_xJRGX8Ofcmt49-BCZNIpoyvxNVW3JiioMitLEWBq05nAic4qiXU_GeaULQKPzD4x2H8nAWoVzaF0-NoVb1MRPR3NuamYG0h_LJWf1Pj-N7KScSTD97_7306Z4U_iIZKGRxyScuAHwGapurGMm8l-oKO38YpjfBPrqtrtmW2oWpUl-AJ8FQZLpBKutFy-tWC8s78VdBe4chG4G0bq-guq9whywO5hrHajtDSZJIK6Ybu9PzgFliKGxtTzuBw_JGqzAsHPU57HbmaCRr0CCoN4mZGCjpNsevB-OEsuxfAHcYhIDZeQ9lT01fYwS1Wd9sEYJ1ojI8ddgPjG-qRQPe0w_0OUbegduR6NxjEdocawvQJ3eryV7CAbkR8fd-2vOi8uGjRFoNh2upP8nLiFfrAOUVMunNnD-VO3hp4apNl026ALY9ayrlF0Edf9_DsY5XGMuJfJhDj9J_pB5gPHgrWtoUmjjyvMdf4ttAp6IkX_LGTE=w1218-h913-no)
Title: Re: Replacing the Hardtop Gas Struts
Post by: 95 Lowbuck on January 13, 2019, 10:32:51 AM
Jeffy, Are you running the 34” Super Swampers now?
Title: Re: Replacing the Hardtop Gas Struts
Post by: Jeffy on January 13, 2019, 10:42:03 AM
Jeffy, Are you running the 34” Super Swampers now?
That's just the spare.  I'm still running 33x10.5R15 KM2's but I'm thinking about moving to 34x10.5R17's if I ever change about the wheels and axles.