Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 04:59 pm, by: Alistair Moorby(Aldmo87)
There was not really any real guides on how to change the boot struts, just respones buried in other threads of people asking how to do it. So here is a guide.
I bought these struts from the http://www.gasstrutguys.com.au struts for the Soarer are not listed on their web page buy you can get them from the same seller on eBay, the struts say www.gasstrutguys.com.au on them.
OK so start by opening the boot, removing the rear trim (just give it a tug there are some clips around the top that just slide off.
Have a look at the struts, there is a ball joint at the top and a ball joint at the bottom.
Step 1 Make sure you have someone to help you at the stage as the boot will fall with only one strut.
Using a 12mm spanner undo the bolt closest to you, it is done up using glue so you will need a 12mm spanner, not a 13mm or a shifter as you will just round the nut.
Start to undo it, mine was tight but easy to undo.
Once you have it off the boot will no longer be able to keep itself up so prop it up with either a friend or improvise like I did.
Step 2 Next using a small screw driver you need to pry open a clip on the ball joint that is attached to the chassis.
Just pry both sides of the clip open and the strut should just pull off VERY easily, it will almost fall off.
Step 3 New get the new strut and screw the ball joint onto the hole that you undid with a spanner in step 1
Step 4 Insert the strut with the clip end onto the post/ball that you took the original strut off in Step 2.
It only goes on one way, so make sure the end with the full circle bit slides over the post/ball first, it should click on with no trouble,
Step 5
Insert the clip on the remaining end onto the ball joint you installed in Step 3.
Repeat the process on the other side, keep in mind the boot lid will still not support itself with one strut even a brand new one, so keep your friend/prop up tool handy and make sure the boot doesn't drop on you when you take the other side off.
If all goes well your boot will hold it's self up from this point onwards (See photo)
Monday, May 28, 2012 - 05:23 pm, by: Shane Haverkamp(Havabeer)
i'm so doing this next week, this thread has inspired me to get off my arse and do it. sick of being hit in the back every time i open and lean into the boot
Friday, June 15, 2012 - 11:47 am, by: Trevor Marsh(Tma7)
I tried doing mine today but found a 12mm spanner was too big. I then tried an 11mm spanner which was too small! So I now need to find a spanner that's just right.
Does anyone know of what size this could be? It's obviously not metric (well mine isn't) so, Whitworth, BSF? ASF?
Help!
I've got a fair few spanners but nothing fits and I'm worried about rounding this nut off.
It does puzzle me why it's apparently glued though.
Friday, June 15, 2012 - 12:33 pm, by: Ian Rigby(Hiro)
Trevor Marsh wrote on Friday, June 15, 2012 - 11:47 am:
I tried doing mine today but found a 12mm spanner was too big. I then tried an 11mm spanner which was too small! So I now need to find a spanner that's just right.
7/16" perhaps? 7/16" = 11.1mm, would have thought a 11mm would have had enough clearance to fit though.
Friday, June 15, 2012 - 07:25 pm, by: Shane Haverkamp(Havabeer)
trevor... it can't be whitworth or bsf. you'll most likely find its a UNC which is still a stupid system based off the inch its got a bit to do with the thread pitch angle.
Sunday, June 17, 2012 - 11:46 am, by: Enzo Seidl(Enzoisamazing)
Mine had never been changed, i broke two 12mm spanners trying to get one of them off, took it into work, and one of the mechanics with a decent spanner set got it off easy as pie.. haha. Should be recieving my new struts this week
Sunday, June 17, 2012 - 01:22 pm, by: Matt Petersen(Mattmannz)
I have found using vice grips to clamp the open ended parts of the spanner against the nut works very well when the spanner wants to slip off and round the nut or bolt.
Wednesday, January 01, 2014 - 10:17 pm, by: Lee Taylor(Captainredline)
I bought the same struts and was wondering why the hell the lower end has that stupid clip, I can't figure out how its supposed to work.
I ended up sliding this clip up so it clears the hole to allow it to slide on the stud, then jiggled it and slid the metal clip back down to how your photo shows, it slightly sits in the groove on the stud. Still not right but enough to stop it sliding off
Will have a better go at it if it ever falls off. Hasn't yet *touch wood*
Peter Nitschke Junk Filterer South Australia UZZ30 UZZ31
Saturday, March 15, 2014 - 10:06 am, by: Chris Lock(Sledge)
BTW.. you may not need to undo the ball joint at all.. Just take the black round clip off the other side with a small screw driver, then a larger screw driver to take it off completely.. Then you should be able to just pull the strut off the ball joint....