I did a little research on how to install a wing and from a few people they said to remember to remove the 12lb counter weight from the trunk lid when installing the wing. Its supposed to be under the plastic cover. Well I took my cover off and couldnt find a 12lb counter weight anywhere. Well before I installed the wing it would be hard for me to close the trunk, I really had to slam it hard to close it, if I didnt then it wouldnt shut all the way. I thought that that was how it was. But after I installed the wing the trunk lid is so much easier to close, it seems to close like how it should be closing now. So just a heads up for those who's trunk lid isn't shutting like how it should be.

 

I remember hearing that too and I checked mine and I didnt have the weight either. Mine's an 03 and i took delivery a little over a year ago so i'm not sure if that was just something on the early 03's or what.

 

It is a large black box thing in bolted to the hatch... sure yall dont have it?

 

mine is an 04...early 04

 

then im deff sure i dont have it. The only thing bolted there was the assembly for the wiper.

 

It isn't 12 pounds! It weighed MAYBE 5 lbs. It is a thin black butterfly shaped metal piece about 5" X 7". I'll try to find mine and take a pic.

The OEM wing is a port installed option (i.e. it is put on here in the states after they take the car off the boat). Someone (I think it was Westpak) theorized that perhaps they didn't put it in all the cars inadvertantly. It supposedly was to be put in cars that did not have the OEM wing. I don't know about that though.

 

I'd say it weighed more like 2lbs. As Dr. Bonz mentioned, it's a metal weight about 5x7 that has a little rubber suspension.

 

I thought it only came on the cars without the factory spoiler.

 

Not sure, but mine has the factory spoiler (track model) and it had the weight. (Not anymore though)

 

Mine was 1.5 lbs on home scales. Seems utterly stupid to go to all the troubles of produsing and bolting that thing for 1.5 lbs of ballast. Threw it away anyway. Hutch still don't want to open by itself...

 

it is a whole thing it has like 2 arms on the side, and then the weight is suspended by ruberbands like....

jeff's car didnt come with a spoiler and he had it in there too... i think it is on all cars...

 

dont know what weight it was cause I didnt have one to weight and my car didnt come with the OEM wing, just from searching i read that it was 12 lbs

 

Had this pic sitting around to show where the weight would be located. Not my pic, but should answer the question.

Hope this helps.

 

whatoem style wing did you add?

yes remove the weight...

the reason why the OEM wing from nissan costs so much is it comes with high strength rear hatch lifts...

 

I removed the weight, and it didn't make any difference, as the hatch still has difficulty releasing.

 

HUH?

Mine don't look any different than any other I have seen pics of?

I had the OEM wing (the one that comes on the Track model). I also had the weight which I removed when I had the NISMO wing installed. It didn't matter, the latch still hung up and you needed two hands to open it. One to push the button by the license plate and the other to lift the hatch open.

Someone posted a neat trick to solve this. What I did is hot glued a couple of those round felt pads (the ones you put on the feet of furniture so they slide without scratching the floor) to the rubber shock things on the hatch. Now, NO PROBLEMS. The hatch opens up easily now.

 

hey doc,

don't those felt pads get wet and nasty everytime you wash the car? maybe something plastic or whatever might be a better idea even though I like your thinking!

 

I haven't noticed but I suppose they do get wet. Plastic would be OK, just be careful you don't scratch the paint with them.

 

hey jason, any chance you can sell the struts seperate?

I have no wing at all, but I wouldnt mind a little extra lift, I have no problems shutting, but opening it with stuff in my hand, specially when it doesnt pop is a pain.

I planned on getting some aftermarket jobs that would basicly swing the whole thing open when I pop it, just concerned how difficult itd be to close.