Botched Hatch Strut/Piston replacement (Help needed)

[JoeT4R]

Well but the new ones don't have any either then I can tell.



Just steel on steel with a strange warped steel washer

I believe mine had the steel washer as well plus some rubber or plastic washer. But it was old and worn out. Yours may have just broken off over time. I can't be 100% sure though, just my best guess.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

 

[jross20]

I believe mine had the steel washer as well plus some rubber or plastic washer. But it was old and worn out. Yours may have just broken off over time. I can't be 100% sure though, just my best guess.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Well, what I mean is the brand new pistons have only have a warp-shapes steel washer. No plastic or rubber than I can see. I mean I'll take a look again in case I just didn't see it but I was curious if one of y'all had a photo of whatever these bushings look like.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

I think OEM are the only ones that come with new bushings. They are not integrated into the mounts. That's why most getting aftermarket get the Hilman nylon setup. Mine still had the last remnants of the OEM bushings on the top mount. The originals actually fit into the mount on the body not on the strut.

 

[SoManyToys]

I replaced my hatch struts a couple weeks ago on my 2001 with Strongarm 6815's, using Timmy the Toolman & Sean's YouTube video to guide me through the process... https://youtube.com/watch?v=QFJrKn7uT4c&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE
If you want to know how OEM bushings appear, Sean shows a good close up of what the broken OEM bushings look like @2:30. I bought nylon spacers/washers before I started the job, but my OEM bushings were still solidly in place in the upper mounts and not broken, so I left them in there during my strut replacement. The hatch now opens all the way, on its own, in cold weather, with no issues (yet).