Can anyone send me a diagram of the struts for the rear hatch, on how to replace them.

Thanks

 

use a T50 torx socket to unscrew them from car and a small flat tip screwdriver to pry the release clip that ataches them to hatch.

 

unclip the one in the rear FIRST.....before you unbolt...........ask me how i know

 

how do you know?

 

Use a broom handle to hold the hatch up and do one side at a time.

That **** is heavy.

 

the pressure will make the bolt hard to get out and strip the threads

 

where is the best place to buy replacement struts?

tony

 

any auto parts store.

 

rock auto is the only place i found to get TA struts.....every place else just has base fbird struts

 

Are there different ones for T/A? I can't see the hatch weighing more my a significant amount....

 

Trans am ,firebird and camaro struts are all the same. They hold up the same rear hatch that holds up the same weight. Forget the broom stick and find someone to hold up the hatch because you can get seriously injured if it falls. Take off top plastic molding that runs along top of the interior. unscrew if it is a ttop or pull off if it is Hard top. Put a flat head screw driver in the clothes hanger and pry the square plastic out of the hanger. pull the side plastic back to get to the rubber piece that covers the rear hatch strut. Go to the rear of car to take the metal pin out of the strut with a flat head screw driver. Try to pry it out without removing it it will make it easier. while someone holds the hatch up. Then go back inside the car to unbolt the hatch bolt. Take it off and replace that one with new one. Then repeat the steps for the other side. To replace the clothes hanger you have to put the square head plastic piece a little in the hanger then put into the body of vehicle. Hope I didn't forget any info.

 

ebay!

 

yes...........the TA and base fbird struts are different...........the wing does weigh more

 

Do you need the t/a part for the SS camaro and its heavier wing?

Also how does the strut get pulled through the rubber?

Tony

 

Anyone?

 

that rubber thing does stretch.......use wd40

 

So are hatch struts different for Camaro/Firebird/TransAm?

 

pretty sure theyre not as I used camaro struts from the junk yard on my trans am hatch hold it no problem

 

Different weights; the TA deck is about 13 lbs heavier (if I recall right) than a Formula, and different PN's - if you have a TA with a raised rear wing, a "standard" strut will work, just not as well in cold weather, or for as long.

(Get the correct strut.)

 

Sorry to hijack/bump an old thread like this, but I figure me posting here might help another desperate internet searcher. I have a coupe 2002, and yeah, I'm worried about pulling off the plastic moulding. There's no screws, plastic metal or otherwise, so I just yank on the plastic and it will come off...and more importantly, I'll be able to put it back on?

I'm worried I'll damage the (presumably plastic) screws that are hidden if I just yank it off. Can anyone tell me where I should pull from, to minimize the risk of damaging the plastic so badly I won't be able to get it back on?