Hi all,

Apparently it is very easy to change the rear hatch struts on a CRX, but I just don't see it. Well, sort of. I can get the end of the strut connected to the hatch off (but I have to go digging under the interior panel on the hatch), but I can't reach the bolt connecting the strut to the body -- at least, not without taking off the interior panels. Now, taking off those panels looks like a pain in the ***, 'cause I gotta also remove the rear side window -- er, what's it called? The rubber trim on the inside of the glass -- thing-a-ma-jig. Or at least that's how it looks to me. Someone please tell me there's an easier way to do this!!

If I do have to remove the interior panels, what's the easiest/best way to do this (without break those stupid plastic clips that holds it all together)?

I have an 87 CRX DX.

Thanks.


[Modified by jpelle, 10:49 PM 3/4/2002]

 

Hmm... Could I possibly have stumped everyone with this question?

 

Are you talking about the struts that hold the Hatch (trunk) up? Or the struts as in suspension. Shocks/struts?

 

The hatch struts that hold the hatch up. Sorry for the confusion.

 

There's a metal band(clip)that you need to pry up from each end of the struts,then they should slip off the "ball shaped pieces"that are bolted to the hatch and the body.I remember there beng another type that just bolts to the car and the hatch.HTH.

 

bolt on and bolt off... try swapping them out with the hatch fully opened.

 

That's what the book says, but like I said, the bolts are not visible -- at least not without pulling off the interior panels. So, is that the case -- that I have to pull off the panels to get to the bolts?

 

NO, to answer your question, you do not have to remove any panels. The strut consists on three pieces. The upper hatch mount, the gas strut is self, and the lower body mount. Very easy. The upper is held on with a 14mm I think. the thing that you are unsecrewing is the actual strut piece. There isn't anything "hidden." If you can remoce the c-clip that holds the strut to the mount and remove the old strut. Once you have done that you can get a ratchet on there and take them off, installation is reverse procedure. ??KInda hard to explain, but very east to do.

 

The bottom bolt is covered by a plastic cover (at the end of the shock). Just pop that out and you can the see the 14mm bolt. You don't have to remove any panels. The top one you have to use a 10 mm (i think) open end wrench. Take those off and that's it.

 

It appears as though I have the kind that bolts directly to the body/hatch.

 

That sounds easy -- but it's not how my car is setup. There's no plastic piece to pop off and the bolts are both 12mm.

I actually managed to get one strut off, and while I didn't have to pull any panels off, I did take off the hatch panel to get to those bolts a little easier (I could have just stuck the wrench in through the gap where the strut disappears into the panel), and I had to pull off the weather stripping (just a bit) on the body, to get to that bolt.

Thanks anyway.