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02-05-2010, 09:06 PM
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#1 (permalink) |
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Base Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 44
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Do heavy duty rear hatch struts exist? My spoiler adds some serious weight. Before I replace the blown out ones I would like to know if anyone can suggest a reliable brand that can support at least 50 pounds.
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Pic of my 2003 350Z : I am the 3rd owner as of 02/2010. http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/s...350Zlittle2.jpg http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/s...pics/My350Z.jpg |
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02-06-2010, 10:28 AM
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#2 (permalink) |
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Super Moderator
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Behind the steering wheel
Posts: 31,073
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The DIY: http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Stainless_S...ck_Installation
One source for heavy duty struts: http://www.z1auto.com/prodmore.asp?model=3...amp;prodid=2976 FYI and this is important! you need to get a very small adjustable wrench. or you need to source a 15/32 wrench.... or you need to get a 11mm and grind down the inside to 11.75mm and then use that..if you screw up the original 11mm, then get a 10mm and try again... effectively, the ball stud mounted to the car is a 11.75 mm hex on it...the closest thing to use US spec is a 15/32 open ended wrench. but thats an odd size to find... EASIEST THING TO DO: by far the easiest thing to do is , get a dremel and cut off the top shock body, dont cut so deep and dont ruin the ball stud, simply cut the "head" and pull the round part off the ball stud.... then from there you can get a 12point 12mm deep socket and remove it with out stripping it "IF" your careful.
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April 24, 2009 at 41,424 miles October 12, 2009 at 43,502 miles March 19, 2010 "Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." - Calvin  |
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02-06-2010, 11:31 AM
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#3 (permalink) |
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Grand Touring Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Lugoff, SC
Posts: 3,838
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Seems to me that with all the engineers we have that post to this message board that someone could identify a heavy duty replacement from those available at auto stores. I know you can go to that area of the store .. where you find a pretty good assortment (sometimes) of gas struts .. and even more that can be ordered.
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 Socrates: "I drank .. wat?" my Blog: The Right Wing Liberal - a Klansman is a Nazi in sheets clothing - |
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02-17-2010, 09:20 AM
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#4 (permalink) |
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Base Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 44
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Installed the struts that SmoothZ suggested. Removed the counter-weight in the hatch. Installed a home made shim in the oem springs (awesome suggestions from another thread). Hatch pops open now but the VeilSide spoiler is too heavy. With one finger I can help the hatch- at the half way mark the struts take over. I can accept this
 On another note: The install was wicked simple. I am not sure why you had to grind wrenches. I own a set of flat wrenches. They weren't necessary at all. 10mm socket, 10mm combo wrench, 12mm deep socket, 12mm combo wrench - and that was too many tools 
__________________
Pic of my 2003 350Z : I am the 3rd owner as of 02/2010. http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/s...350Zlittle2.jpg http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/s...pics/My350Z.jpg |
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