DaRReLL

iTrader: (4)

I just installed the helper spring to help it open better. I was wondering is the hatch suppose to open up on its own, fully? Mine doesn't and I believe it's because the struts are shot.

Wrench7777

well it depends. with brand new struts the hatch will pop open past the lock. only with out the wing on the back will the hatch open up fully, and raise ti the top

Ls1CamaroGuy87

iTrader: (7)

No, the piggy-back spring only pops the lock fully open so you don't have to press the button more than once. Like said above, it will open slightly, but maybe only a couple inches...

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

Sometimes I wonder if the spring is just a band-aid for worn struts. I actually have to pull my hatch open as the struts do nothing at all to help open it. Once open it holds it, but it feels weak.

DaRReLL

iTrader: (4)

Since I put on he SS spoiler it feels heavier to open, understandable because it is. I was thinking of buying new struts, but from you guys have said it would be pointless...

Daniel Richards

iTrader: (1)

The third gens lifted all the way, well some them anyway, I think it has to do with how low the body mounts of the shocks sit. (skip to 0:50 seconds into the video to see what the OP is asking if 4th gens do)


but no I don't think the 4ths do.

DaRReLL

iTrader: (4)

Has anyone ever replaced the struts?

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

I plan on it at some point but it isn't high on the list.

RollTideTA

I haven't, but I rarely use the trunk of my WS6 and honestly something like that would be pretty far down the priority list even if it didn't operate very well.

I have replaced a lot of similar struts on hatches, hoods etc on other vehicles though.

If one were so inclined... it would be super easy to do; 5 minute job max.

PS: but just for the record... the hatches are huge and heavy, they are never going to open/close elegantly like a Mercedes trunk lid no matter what you do

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

5 min on other cars, but not these cars. You have to remove the interior plastic panels on the sail panel to change the hatch struts as they go through that rubber boot and attach behind the plastic. That's one reason they are low on my list as long as the hatch stays up when I open it

94 White T/A

Never seen a 3rd gen hatch do that, even with new struts

Anyway, a 4th gen hatch definitely won't, they are much heavier

DaRReLL

iTrader: (4)

I might as well plan putting this on the BOTTOM of the list. Thanks for all the input.

bamalt1

iTrader: (7)

This. You have to remove the rear panels and then use a Torx bit T15(I think) to replace them and I don't think I'd bother doing it again. The only reason I replaced them was I had a friend who owned a junkyard and I got them for free. The rare occasions I used the hatch before swapping them, I just propped it open with my head.

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

my 3rd gen with new struts popped right open.....before i put a TA wing on my formula it popped open with new struts.....and that spring mod is a MUST

Daniel Richards

iTrader: (1)

A little research on Advance Auto shows different part numbers for the lift struts for the Trans Am vs the regular Firebird, I think I will ad this to my list as mine are starting to go, when I got the car a 15 months ago once I opened it past a certain point it would lift the rest of the way up, now with a little bit of sound deadener on there it won't even stay all the way up when I raise it by hand. Think I'll get the T/A struts and see how they do.