Rear hatch struts
#2
Junior Member
Re: Rear hatch struts
I haven't replaced the rear hatch yet, but I did the hood with strong arm struts and they work great and weren't expensive. I used Rockauto. I plan to use them when I replace the rear hatch struts soon.
#4
Supreme Member
iTrader: (167)
Re: Rear hatch struts
I can't recommend a brand, but remember that there are a few variations of hatch struts based on the equipment that your hatch has mounted to it. Things like a Rear Wiper, Rear Defroster, or a heavy rear Spoiler will need to be accounted for when choosing the right hatch struts for your car.
#5
Supreme Member
Re: Rear hatch struts
Delco, WITHOUT spoiler (unless you've added some heavy aftermarket wing). If your car has rear defrost, DO NOT buy the chinese Sanlongs from eBay! They will short out your rear defrost switch as soon as you soon as you connect the defroster leads.
#7
Member
Re: Rear hatch struts
I bought the lifetime gaurantee whatever brand from Advanced Auto parts,hood and hatch,in 2012 and they are still holding up well.
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#9
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Lexington SC
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Car: 1989 Z28 Camaro
Engine: removed 406 building 383
Transmission: 700R4 swapping to T56
Axle/Gears: Ford 9" 3.70 going to 4.10 or 4.30
Re: Rear hatch struts
Sach's brand which is Stabilus hood and deck struts are sold at O"Rielys. They a Limited Lifetime Warranty and they list them by four different lifting pressure ratings depending if you have a convertible, plain hatch, a hatch with wiper, or a Formula hatch with the heavy urethane spoiler on it. Once you have the correct part number you can search for the best price. I put the highest pressure ones on my 89 Z28 deck lid and it literally pops open when released. The pressures are 56 lbs, 123 lbs, 142 lbs or 155 lbs.
#11
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
Re: Rear hatch struts
definitely be careful on what struts you buy, My car has the rear defroster and small flat spoiler so I bought the struts that I thought would be correct for the car. now my rear hatch takes off like a space shuttle heading to the moon, I have to hit the release button and run out of my car to slow it down before it leaves the earth's atmosphere.
#14
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
Re: Rear hatch struts
definitely be careful on what struts you buy, My car has the rear defroster and small flat spoiler so I bought the struts that I thought would be correct for the car. now my rear hatch takes off like a space shuttle heading to the moon, I have to hit the release button and run out of my car to slow it down before it leaves the earth's atmosphere.
Last edited by kentuckyKITT; 06-21-2018 at 05:28 PM.
#15
Supreme Member
Re: Rear hatch struts
When you install new hatch struts, don't be surprised if your hatch alignment changes quite a bit due to the extra force from the new struts
#16
Re: Rear hatch struts
I've always just grabbed them from Advance Auto or Autozone. They may be a bit cheaper on Amazon or someplace, but that's your call. Every f-body I've ever owned came with a broom handle!
#17
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Location: Washington, IA
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Car: 90 Camaro RS
Engine: 5.0 TBI
Re: Rear hatch struts
definitely be careful on what struts you buy, My car has the rear defroster and small flat spoiler so I bought the struts that I thought would be correct for the car. now my rear hatch takes off like a space shuttle heading to the moon, I have to hit the release button and run out of my car to slow it down before it leaves the earth's atmosphere.
#18
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Car: 1989 Z28 Camaro
Engine: removed 406 building 383
Transmission: 700R4 swapping to T56
Axle/Gears: Ford 9" 3.70 going to 4.10 or 4.30
Re: Rear hatch struts
If the hatch switch is still wired correctly it will not open if you are in drive or reverse, at least thats how my 89 Z28 is.
#19
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Car: 1 Owner 1986 TA with a WS6 package
Engine: 5.0 EFI
Transmission: THM700R4
Axle/Gears: 277 Posi Speedo
Re: Rear hatch struts
definitely be careful on what struts you buy, My car has the rear defroster and small flat spoiler so I bought the struts that I thought would be correct for the car. now my rear hatch takes off like a space shuttle heading to the moon, I have to hit the release button and run out of my car to slow it down before it leaves the earth's atmosphere.
#20
Supreme Member
iTrader: (58)
Re: Rear hatch struts
One could argue that the hatch is supposed to open completely. The 91.5-92 pulldown latch moves up before the latch pops, and the striker is spring loaded. They (91.5-92) opened completely with the factory struts.
I'd consider anything between not re-latching and going back down, and opening completely to be correct.
I put the Deluxe Supreme struts on my Formula, and my Iroc. Neither opens objectionably hard. Of course one has the light wrap around wing, and the other has OE louvers, but I can't see a huge problem with struts being too strong, even with no spoiler/wiper/louvers, etc. Afterall, the strut is going to take the shock at the end of travel.
I'd consider anything between not re-latching and going back down, and opening completely to be correct.
I put the Deluxe Supreme struts on my Formula, and my Iroc. Neither opens objectionably hard. Of course one has the light wrap around wing, and the other has OE louvers, but I can't see a huge problem with struts being too strong, even with no spoiler/wiper/louvers, etc. Afterall, the strut is going to take the shock at the end of travel.
#21
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
Re: Rear hatch struts
One could argue that the hatch is supposed to open completely. The 91.5-92 pulldown latch moves up before the latch pops, and the striker is spring loaded. They (91.5-92) opened completely with the factory struts.
I'd consider anything between not re-latching and going back down, and opening completely to be correct.
I put the Deluxe Supreme struts on my Formula, and my Iroc. Neither opens objectionably hard. Of course one has the light wrap around wing, and the other has OE louvers, but I can't see a huge problem with struts being too strong, even with no spoiler/wiper/louvers, etc. Afterall, the strut is going to take the shock at the end of travel.
I'd consider anything between not re-latching and going back down, and opening completely to be correct.
I put the Deluxe Supreme struts on my Formula, and my Iroc. Neither opens objectionably hard. Of course one has the light wrap around wing, and the other has OE louvers, but I can't see a huge problem with struts being too strong, even with no spoiler/wiper/louvers, etc. Afterall, the strut is going to take the shock at the end of travel.
I'll video it tomorrow if the loft in my garage is tall enough to clear the opened hatch with the car on jackstands.
#23
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Car: 90 Camaro RS
Engine: 5.0 TBI
Re: Rear hatch struts
for me it doesn't really look like the shock runs out of travel, it looks like the hatch runs out of travel and stops as the struts keep pushing in a pretty gruesome motion. takes a good amount of force to pull the hatch back down to planet earth too.
I'll video it tomorrow if the loft in my garage is tall enough to clear the opened hatch with the car on jackstands.
I'll video it tomorrow if the loft in my garage is tall enough to clear the opened hatch with the car on jackstands.
#24
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
Re: Rear hatch struts
Couldn’t make it out to my garage today, I’ve been feeling really off lately with zero energy after work.
im gonna take Drew’s word on the hatch having no stop and the struts limiting the hatch’s motion, he’s never steered me wrong before and I’ve never had the hatch off one of these cars before.
im gonna take Drew’s word on the hatch having no stop and the struts limiting the hatch’s motion, he’s never steered me wrong before and I’ve never had the hatch off one of these cars before.
#25
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Car: 90 Camaro RS
Engine: 5.0 TBI
Re: Rear hatch struts
Couldn’t make it out to my garage today, I’ve been feeling really off lately with zero energy after work.
im gonna take Drew’s word on the hatch having no stop and the struts limiting the hatch’s motion, he’s never steered me wrong before and I’ve never had the hatch off one of these cars before.
im gonna take Drew’s word on the hatch having no stop and the struts limiting the hatch’s motion, he’s never steered me wrong before and I’ve never had the hatch off one of these cars before.
#27
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Car: 90 Camaro RS
Engine: 5.0 TBI
Re: Rear hatch struts
OK I have the video and uploaded it to my MS Onedrive here is the link Hatch open video
Jeez! So at least in my 90 the pull down latch DOES NOT moves up before the latch pops.
Note to self always open from the key from now on...
Jeez! So at least in my 90 the pull down latch DOES NOT moves up before the latch pops.
Note to self always open from the key from now on...
#28
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Car: 90 Camaro RS
Engine: 5.0 TBI
#29
Supreme Member
iTrader: (58)
Re: Rear hatch struts
When you consider the age of the originals, kinda makes sense that fresh struts are significantly stronger.
The strut is going to stop lifting when it's fully extended. If you unbolt the struts, you can open the hatch further than the struts do.
While they might seem excessive now, they'll probably soften before you know it.
The strut is going to stop lifting when it's fully extended. If you unbolt the struts, you can open the hatch further than the struts do.
While they might seem excessive now, they'll probably soften before you know it.
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