mammoth713

is it absolutely necessary to cut the carpet behind the plastic pieces in the hatch to get at the top of the rear shocks?

98PurpleT/A

iTrader: (16)

no you can remove it or lift it up a bit by removing rear plastics. People cut it cause they dont want to take there time

vincew1

My 2000 Formula had pre-cut square flaps above the shocks from the factory. When I say precut they were mostly cut, just had to trim cut the corners to bend them back. I just folded down the rear seat and there they were. It surprised my because I was concerned about taking scissors to my carpet as most everyone was saying you had to do. I guess the factory started doing this in the later models?

01 ss vert

iTrader: (1)

as vince said, it's precut.

neutron82

iTrader: (26)

yeah just cut along the outlines that are already there... you only cut 3 sides so it's not like you're taking out a whole chunk of carpet... you can fold the flap back in and once the seat is put back in place you would never notice it and it is alot easier than screwing with the plastic and folding the carpet back

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

I didn't cut anything, I just rolled the carpet back. I didn't know there were pre-cut slots. Haha darn that would have been easier

mammoth713

well as i dissassembled the trunk plastics further and further..

the way i ended up doing it was taking out the 2 torx bit rods that secure the folding back seat. I figured that would allow the plastics to have more room to move for me to slide the carpet out from each side under each plastic piece.

It worked perfect on the drivers side and slid out from under the plastic no problem and didnt need any cutting.

The passenger side almost came out far enough, but there was a little "strap" part of the rug secured onto some part of the upper wheel well.. Took a utility knife to the 1 inch or so piece of strap and then the passenger side followed suit with the driver and slid right out.

I dont know if this is what you guys are talking about but it worked perfect for me and i only had to cut a little piece of the rug to free it and it was 100% under the plastics way under with no chance of screwing it up.

i should have taken a picture of it.

your flap you guys are talking about... i saw no such thing on my 2000 camaro..

this is what worked for me and was super simple

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

all the rugs are pre cut............hard to see sometimes.....but its there...........lower the back seat.........its right there where at the curve where the shelf starts.....i used a sharp kinife but a razor blade will do.......rolling up the whole rug is a big PITA

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

If you look carefully you can see the perforations in the carpet in a U shape.