beneteau

Just changed the trunk lift supports on the wife's 05 LS. Didn't realize just how bad the old ones were until I had the new ones installed. What a difference. Bought on eBay---$50.00 for both---Strong Arm brand.

caddyowner

Is this an easy DIY job or would I be hurling tools out of the garage?

beneteau

Easy job----just a matter of minutes.

chris81964

What is the difference?

jayclapp

Since the supports don't totally lift the trunk lid when opening, the best way to evauate the supports is to look at how high they keep the trunk open when closing it.

As the supports start to fail, you will find that the lid will fall when the lid is being closed. You'll know they are really bad when the lid won't stay open when you are on a slight incline.

New supports will hold the lid open until it is approximately 12 to 17 inches from being fully closed. The variation comes from different temperatures and maybe manufacturers.

danxp

so let me see if i got this straight... new/fully-functional supports are supposed to keep the trunk open 12-17 inches? mine's at 0...

my trunk is either in the fully open position or closed... oh and there is the unlocked position (which looks completely closed).

i guess it's time for those new supports... hmmm... i was fine with the supports till i read this thread... damnit!

Slvr surfr

iTrader: (1)

LOL. Gotta love CL.

Bocatrip

I always assumed that the functionality of the trunk supports was pretty much the "all or nothing law". Either they hold the trunk open in the full position or they don't. Mine do just that without any problem. Is there something else we are supposed to know about them?

caddyowner

I guess my struts are working OK. They just seem pretty stiff.

kenttz

Yeah its best to replace the struts before a accident happens. I know a few ppl for example on their 350z the rear hatch struts were bad and so when the hatch was open it would slam back down hitting the person. Which you can imagine would hurt like hell haha.

jayclapp

It's pretty easy to test your struts. Just lower the trunk lid slowly (you should have to pull down on it initially) and find the position where the trunk lid drops on it's own. My measurements are from the lowest part of the lid to the trunk opening at the bumper.

I did this when I made my first strut replacement to determine a baseline for new OEM struts as I had purchased the car as CPO and didn't know how bad my struts were.

94LSon20

+1 to new supports.
Made a world of difference

fergo308

yeah,I'll put my hand up and vouch for that one. The struts for my second 86's hatch were gone and it caught me once. Right in the back of the head. Wasn't fun. I vaugely remember changing them and beating the old ones flat with a hammer afterwards...


Justin...

McSwine

I'm just glad they got rid of the gooseneck hinges that crush your stuff, like on my old LS400.

danxp

ordered the strong arm brand also from ebay for $49 shipped... hopefully it'll make a difference... saw some that were about $30 shipped, but wasn't too sure...