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.
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)