Last time I bought new rear hatch struts I recall them being like ~$40 each, gmpartsdirect gave me the P/N 16604428 for my 1992 Trans Am and they are $87.90 each, WTF!

Did they give me the wrong GM P/N or are they really that damn expensive now?

I'm only interested in the genuine GM parts, not a chain store knock-off but damn!

 

Go to any good Auto parts store and they should be LESS then $20.00 ea. You are buy them at the wrong places.

On keeping GM parts....Nothing is made by GM or AC Delco so there goes your original parts.

 

AC Delco part #510510 for $36.79/ea on Rock Auto's website, or they have others going down in price to $11.97.

 

I bought a NOS set of them and they don't work as well as a 20y old set of parts store specials.

 

Yeah I learned that 14 years ago when I bought an NOS set lol. Now I try to only buy new but still stick with AC Delco/GM, they seem to last me about 4 years each time now. I still like to see that blue sticker on them

jharrison5, thanks for the AC Delco P/N!!!!

Alex

 

All my original 91-2s have yellow paint lettering on the hatch struts. I'll have to look at the hoods!!

 

I recall the same. I just know all the current ACDELCO/GM ones have used blue stickers for a long time. If I can't run NOS I at last want that, better than nothing.

There really should be a category called ONOS for Original New Old Stock, seriously. I can't even tell you how many "NOS" parts I've bought that are NOT the same as the originals, windshield wiper control lever, headlight switch, etc. I'm sure you know this better than most too. Makes it a real PITA to keep these things original in the ways one desires.

 

Sorry, my 9 month old found the keyboard and posted b4 I was done! lol

Yeah, Once a car goes out of production it seems like they change how the parts are built or suppliers.
Finding true NOS stuff is hard!

I have a NOS set of aluminum hood struts, tough !

 

I'm going to order this one from RockAuto:

ACDELCO Part #510511 {#12333224} Professional|Lift Support
Hatch Lift; w/spoiler & wiper

In the hopes that since it's for a hatch with spoiler AND wiper (which they never even made the late years but whatever) in the hopes it's rated for a bit more weight and perhaps may last longer, we'll see...

 

I picked up these at Auto Zone http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par..._670920_19977_
and I'm almost positive that they were sold as a set.

 

I prefer to not get the spoiler AND wiper combinations. Simply because it means that it's going to be pushing the trunk backwards with even more force 24/7/365....The trunk lid being out of alignment is generally more of an issue on the Camaros with their lightweight spoiler compared to the Pontiacs with their heavier wings. But why push it?

 

I've tried AC Delco, Strong Arm, and just recently went for Sachs Stabilius. All of them so far seem to last about the same amount of time (3-4 years). I haven't had the Sachs long enough to know how they'll last.

The AC Delco and Strong Arm look identical (black with blue label). The Sachs have a beefier look.

 

Hmm, good point. I adjusted my hatch once back in like 2001 and it's never moved since, maybe I'm feelin' lucky

 

It probably really isn't an issue. After all, the Camaros with the stronger hatch struts will actually open the window and raise themselves all the way to full open......I've never seen a Trans Am do that.

Me? I just want the darn thing to stay up and not close on me. And I'd rather not have to adjust the glass in the future.

 

Mine won't. Especially with that 30 lb. spoiler on it. It won't even clear the electric latch. If you don't lift it up fairly soon after turning the key, it will re-latch. It does stay up though. It's at least the 3rd pair on the car since new, as the replacement part packages were still in the car when I bought it, carefully rolled up with a rubber band.

 

http://www.liftsupportsdepot.com/sho...ta-coupe-2door

 

RockAuto.com

even with shipping, its often cheaper then going to the store if you can wait a day or two.

more so if you consider gas, and the fun of dealing with the morons who only know as much as their computer tells them.

" I need some spark plugs for...... walks you over to the light bulb section to look........." true story that happend to me at AZ


a 200% mark up on parts is common at shops and garages......

 

Haha, agreed! I just ordered them, I also needed a few other things from RockAuto as well, like one of only 2 brand new front RH fenders they had left for a 1991/1992 Firebird. They weren't GM but were still a very reputable reproduction from a company whos products I have used before on other restorations that I trust. Plus over $30 cheaper than a used one from Hawks. Oh the damage that can ensue when a ball joint totally fails

 

I picked up all 4 lifts from liftsupportsdepot.com for my 82 T/A. The rear hatch pops right up to full open no problem.

Hopefully they last a long time, but for $82.83 shipped it was the best deal I could find.

 

With new cheapy struts on my 89 formula (stock spoiler), the hatch popped right up and did so, then I went with a new lighter wing, still going over 20 yrs later..

 

i picked up the rears off ebay from lift support depot also. Blue labels. Seem to work real well. The install was the usual PITA.

 

I installed these over the weekend, yeah.....too powerful. I should have gone with the ones for just the spoiler. Even with my rear cargo shade, soon as the motor releases the hatch it lifts up all by its self. It doesn't slam open tooooooo fast though, but it takes quite a bit of muscle to start to pull it down when fully extended. Oh well, live and learn

I disconnected them on one end, checked the alignment on my hatch, tightened the nuts at the top of the glass. Hopefully these things don't pull on the hatch too much as suggested they might!

I should have listened to Reid lol. These damn things feel like they could even lift the hatch by themselves with the heavier 85-90 Trans Am spoilers.

 

even with out spoiler ones they are very strong, why I have hood pins on the notchback, they are only there to keep it shut tight, shocks are so strong they twist the right corner up if not.

[ confuses folks as it still locks as normal ]

 

We carry them on our website with the correct tensions labeled.

 

I just installed the AC Delco 510-511 on my RS . . holy cow are they powerful! I don't think my wife could close the hatch now . .

Now I'm torn . .

510-510 w/ spoiler or wiper

or

510-509 w/o spoiler or wiper

 

I changed the struts out to the 510-509 #12333222 and they work great. Still open the hatch all the way when popped, but not with brute force.

The 510-511 #12333224 were just too powerful.

 

Good feedback