dcains

iTrader: (15)

True, but what seems to be different about the StrongArm struts is that they have an internal spring which I haven't seen in others. If I get a chance tomorrow, I'll pull off the hatch springs and see if the hatch still pops the same way. I'm betting it does.

.cakestar

i read this info and had the z1 hatch springs for a while. Switched to the strong arms and wow what a difference. much easier to open and always pops open. With the z1 struts the trunk would take multiple tries before opening, though im getting a little more vibration and rattling from the hatch with these struts, i then bought new hatch springs and the noise is gone. highly recommend these strongarm struts. thanks for the recommendation

Sebastian777

So I went to install the strongarms and realized one of them was missing the ball stud so I reinstalled one of the cheap ones. Contacting the seller through amazon to get one. That said, just having one strongarm on there is enough to pop the hatch open like it should.

dcains

iTrader: (15)

The hardware is all the same. When I installed the crappy Arana struts I just clipped them on to the old StrongArm mounts, and then when the StrongArms arrived I just swapped the struts. Keep it simple.

Sebastian777

Unfortunately the other aftermarket ones I bought are like the OEM ones, they're made so you can't remove them from the stud.
I would really like to kick the Nissan engineer who designed that right in the *****.

dcains

iTrader: (15)

Yeah, the OEM ones can only be cut apart, but the other ones I've seen have a little metal clip you can pull back with a small screwdriver to release the pivot from the ball.

Sebastian777

Unfortunately not the $26 pair I got on amazon.

.cakestar

the z1 hatch struts are similar to the oem style but i just forced the top ball joint off. took quite a good amount of force but it did come off and i reused the top connector part

AX8

Wait just a minute here....

You guys are saying that the rear hatch is actually functional ?



I used this grabber / reacher tool when items slid too far back in the hatch.

Good info in this thread.

Once I figure out how to open that hatch, will read this valueable info again

dcains

iTrader: (15)

You don't need to re-read the whole thread, just get a set of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Nissan-Suppor...strongarm+4194

$44/shipped, and a lifetime exchange warranty if you send them back with $8 for shipping. My first set lasted ~5 years (which was ~2 years longer than the OEM).