IROC444

Ok, so I went through about 10 pages on the search bar about my issue but didn't see anything relating to my issue. Need your help so here it goes.

My hatch won't hold itself open due to the old lift supports being shot. I bought new lift supports (exact length and specs as the old ones) to replace them with but now the damn thing won't decompress all the way and leaves 1 1/2" and the hatch won't latch. Thinking it was just a bad set of supports so I exchanged them and put them on today. NOPE, I was wrong. Same damn problem, different supports.

I put them on every way they could possibly go, but nothing works. I then thought that my hatch was off-alignment...but when I put the old supports back on, it closes just fine. I need these #^%&ing these replaced but am having a lot of problems; maybe I'm just a $&^#ing idiot. Excuse my language, but I'm just about as pissed as I can be right now.

Pics of the set-up are below if they can help at all.

922628

I hate to ask the simple questions, but, did you match the part #? Did you put the new and old side by side to check the length? Maybe the new supports are rejects, can you swap them 4 another set? I went out and looked at mine and it looks the same how you have them mounted!

IROC444

Like I said, same exact dimensions as the old one's. The first struts I bought I exchanged thinking it was a bad pair, but nope...same crap.

TIMMYS89GTA

iTrader: (28)

OK,here's a possible example.Ihave an 89 that came with the rubber piece of junk.I installed a fiberglass spoiler and bought the factory shocks for an 89 with aero wing.Now when I hit the hatch release button the hatch opens on it's own.

oldtimer

I just did these on my 88. No problem at all. The parts guide did show supports without spoiler or wiper, with spoiler or wiper, and with both spoiler and wiper. I don't think lengths differ, just force. Could it be that your hatch pull down is marginal, and can't pull the hatch down with the new struts? It is one possibility I can think of. Also, if your hatch hinges are worn badly enough, then the hatch will not fit quite right along the rear edge as the struts will push the hatch rearward by an amount equal to the play in the hinges. If the hatch moves rearward, it is possible that the pull down is not receiving the hatch striker in the same position as with the worn struts. You may be able to readjust the pulldown anchor bolts to compensate. My hatch hinges have some slack at 160k miles, and my hatch line up is off maybe be 1/4 -5/16 inch. My pull down is freshly overhauled, and closes the hatch every time. I can detect extra effort needed versus the old struts I removed, however. Oldtimer.

IROC444

you lost me.

82 Iron Duke

iTrader: (21)

If your lost with the above explanation then my friend you are lost

IROC444

Ok, I got the alignment where it should be but the "U" shaped hook on the hatch won't connect with the pull-down assembly. I tried forcing it down and I tried with the battery on and off to see if the motor will pull it down. It appears that the "U" shaped hook is not connecting with the motor switch on the assembly. Any suggestions?

IROC444

After about 8 days of determination and "can-do" attitude, I finally beat the beast.

ron91rs

It looks like the latch hook was thrown closed, not allowing the u shaped hold down to engage...was that the problem?? how did u finally get it fixed ??

IROC444

Nope, the gear & motor was shot in my old assembly so I had to pull the one off the new one only becuase the new assembly didn't work electrically. Also, I had to re-align the hatch to allow the struts to decompress enough to lock.

It was a bitch doing it blindedly, but it got down.

Thank all of you for your help!!!