I'm replacing my 2 rear struts that hold up the glass hatch.

What tool do i need to unscrew the 2 large bolts located near the rear seat that hold the strut in palce?

Thanks for the help.

 

A Torx bit.

 

Joe, you are on a roll today.
You need at least 3 poeple, a t-50, and a screwdriver. A search can be your best friend when asking questions that have been asked a million times before.

 

This is true, but however the search engine is FUBAR right now and some slack should be given.

 

3 people is an average, I did it by myself, but that hatch is a heavy **** without those struts. Try to do one at a time if by yourself.

 

The bolts on the 83 I had were 9/16's, but his is probably newer.

 

Nah, you can do it by yourself.

You can only change one-side-at-a-time anyway. So as long as one side is still attached, all you'll need to support the side you're removing is whatever 'special tool' you've been using all this time to support the hatch when you've had it open with the weak struts. Mine was a wooden stick from a broom.

 

Yall are wimps

3 people? Come on

By myself Ive removed, set it against the wall, and reinstalled the whole hatch when i painted the car without damaging anything or having a hernia. Its not THAT bad

One person is plenty strong enuff to hinge it up and down a few times

Its a T-47

I can take a pic of a T-50 NOT fitting in there if youd like

The easiest way ive found is to remove the 2 9/32" bolts and let the struts drape over the taillights
Wad up a towel and put over the latch so the hatch doesnt squish the struts or crush them into your tailights

Now go inside the car and remove the big bolts on the struts

Install new struts in same fashion

reopen hatch and slide new struts over the stubs and put 9/32" bolts back in

Should take 15 mins

 

 

You are a bad azz, I don't know his strength or qualifications on car repair so I made a suggestion. I have removed many strut nuts and seat belt nuts with my T-50; I can take pics if you would like to see them.

 

Yup T-50 can be made to work, but it's still a T-47 size I've used a T-50 as well with results of breaking the bit, or stripping out the bolt if they are in very tightly since it never seats correctly. It's just so much easier having the correct tool.

 

Ya you guys are too quick for me, i was going to hop in and comment on the T47, i have striped some torx before when i first got the car and didnt know. Also if all you have is a T50 just hammer it in some and use a breaker bar and youll be fine. My trick to doing them by myself was one side at a time also.

 

i did it myself with the broom stick method, worked fine.