My 2004 RX330 factory original liftgate struts are wearing out. Bought replacements without brackets and found the factory original liftgate struts do not have the C clamp that everyone was talking about (see photos of original struts). It looks like the entire socket end of the strut is encased in metal body. There is no C clamp to remove in order to separate old strut from bracket ball end. Do I have to cut open the strut ball socket end to remove strut from ball? Am I missing something? The replacement struts do come with C clamps. If I can reuse the original bracket, the installation would be easy. Are these original strut brackets from 2004 RX330 not meant to be reusable and I must get struts with brackets? Can anyone help?

Ball end of the original strut.

Scratch some paint off and found it is all metal parts. No way to remove it.

Bottom end of the original strut. Again, no C clamp anywhere.

 

I had a similar situation (ours was purchased in November 2003, so it was an early 2004 RX330 build). To make it easier, I purchased these with the brackets.


Make sure to support that liftgate ... it is very heavy.

 

you need to carefully grind the old strut off. My rx350 had the same struts.

 

Can you show me where to grind so as not to damage the ball? I have a Dremel tool I could use to cut the strut.

 

grind it thru the middle and use a small screw driver to prise it apart take your time and dont grind into the ball

 

tony have you completed the job ok

 

To: tomr51
Not yet. My struts are still working just a little weak. I plan to do the job this winter when it is not so hot (I am in Texas, 100F now) and the struts loss strength in cold weather. I plan to use Dremel to cut the strut socket end a straight line from center to side, then use a screw driver to pry open the strut socket until the ball can be removed from the strut. If any one has better idea, please post.

 

you just need to cut in from the edge , then prise apart with a screw driver. the ball is pushed in, so you only need a small cut to be able to twist it out

 

I don't think I have a better idea, but I just removed the existing brackets (I think they were 10mm) and then installed the new lift supports (that came with their own brackets). Short of finding a piece of wood to support the door, it was pretty easy/fast.