Hatch Lift Support...to OEM or not to OEM

[Paulmaz]

Hi all-

I am slowly going through items on my son's new to him 2002 4Runner. The hatch lifts are worn. I have ready a bunch of posts, some have gone OEM and some have gone after market.

I have the two supports in the cart at McGeorge Toyota, with shipping comes to $122. Some of the better rated aftermarket ones are around $50.

Is it worth the extra $70?

 

[endoscott]

How long does he plan to drive it? My daughter is hoping to get her '97 to 500,000 miles, so I always recommend factory parts for repairs on that one (we bought it new in 1997). Nothing worse than those car part store parts with "lifetime warranty" crap, but you are the one stuck with the labor. But if you only plan to own it a couple years, get the cheap ones We also have another 97 that we bought a couple years ago for desert driver, same on that, I buy factory parts. Plan to drive that one til the kids take away my keys.

 

[spartacus]

Hi all-

I am slowly going through items on my son's new to him 2002 4Runner. The hatch lifts are worn. I have ready a bunch of posts, some have gone OEM and some have gone after market.

I have the two supports in the cart at McGeorge Toyota, with shipping comes to $122. Some of the better rated aftermarket ones are around $50.

Is it worth the extra $70?

After market work just fine. lots of folks have replaced oem with strong arm. There are two types one heavier then the other.The heavier one take a little more effort to close and open fairly lively.

 

[BillsRunner]

After market ones are fine

I had to replace mine on two different 4th gens - just bought some from Amazon - fit and worked perfectly.

I usually get most of my parts from my local Toyota dealership, unlike many, they give me great prices - even on tires - and great advice. I bought some cross bars for my new 5th gen and they even put them on for free!

But for the lift pistons - the replacement non OEM worked great - never had to replace them again.

 

[octanejunkie]

I had to replace mine on two different 4th gens - just bought some from Amazon - fit and worked perfectly.



I usually get most of my parts from my local Toyota dealership, unlike many, they give me great prices - even on tires - and great advice. I bought some cross bars for my new 5th gen and they even put them on for free!



But for the lift pistons - the replacement non OEM worked great - never had to replace them again.

I bought ONE Strong Arm 6815-W from Lift Support Depot and left one older strut on. Works awesome!

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

[5VZ-FE]

+1 for strongarm from lift support depot

 

[Spiker Engineering]

Yup, Strongarm 6815 is your best bet.

 

[jgue467]

I just did both with amazon Chineeze stuff, being working fine for years...

 

[cl4Rk]

I'm liking the strongarms. There are several write-ups, but here's mine. The DIY nylon bushings are a nice touch so they don't shift around on you during operation: https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3697880-post33189.html

 

[Thepedigree13]

My oem only work when it's hot outside.....sometimes.

Buy a cheap pair of visegrips and don't look back.

With the visegrips you can set the height you want your hatch opened, sometimes I like it lower depending on where the sun is.

 

[octanejunkie]

I'm liking the strongarms. There are several write-ups, but here's mine. The DIY nylon bushings are a nice touch so they don't shift around on you during operation: https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3697880-post33189.html

That link takes me to a completely unrelated thread, at least via Tapatalk

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Bad Luck]

That link takes me to a completely unrelated thread, at least via Tapatalk

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

Works for me on desktop. Try this instead: https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-...u-do-your-3rd-gen-today-2213.html#post3697880 post 33189

 

[cl4Rk]

That link takes me to a completely unrelated thread, at least via Tapatalk

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

I've noticed that any links to a specific post within a thread seem to break inside Tapatalk, while a link to the thread itself always works (but then you'd need to navigate to the right post number, which is also painful inside Tapatalk). Not sure why this is.


[MENTION=319302]Bad Luck[/MENTION] 's method works. Thanks!

 

[octanejunkie]

I remember seeing that post/mod in the past, I don't think I would have found it tho

I need to go to OSH/Ace to get/make/DIY bushings/sleeves for my Toikco rear shocks

On it, thanks!

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[pluton]

I bought and installed new OEMs in 2013 upon acquiring this 4Runner. In 2022, they still work the same as new---weaker when it gets cold.

 

[Hillbill]

I have had the strong arm 6815 supports for a few years. I was recently disappointed to see they are no longer fully opening the hatch.

 

[Romeo1]

Bolted up a new OEM set last night. They weren’t that expensive either.

 

[Bad Luck]

Bolted up a new OEM set last night. They weren’t that expensive either.

Can you let me know if they come with any brackets/clips/bushings/etc when you get them?

 

[maxthebird]

OEM's come with brackets already attached. All you need to do is unbolt the old and bolt on the new. For around 50 bucks plus shipping from an online Toyota dealer.

 

[maxthebird]

To clarify, that 50 bucks each.