Will new hatch struts cause glass/frame problems
 

I have never had new hatch struts on my car. I would like to buy some now but I am a little worried. Will the force of the new struts cause the frame to break loose from the glass. As far as I can tell the frame is still attached to the glass, and I would like to keep it that way.

Yes some people have had problems. I have replaced them on 2 cars and had no problems. It is a poor design.

I really don't want to reseal my hatch glass any time soon. It doen't look very easy at all. But I would like to have new struts and not have to lift the hatch anymore.


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I just noticed that my hatch needs to be resealed, yeps. I will have to add that to the list. I even left the old struts on so this wouldn't happen.

I've seen it happen on some cars. Doesn't matter if it's been garaged it's whole life or low miles either. Seems that it's even money that you could have delamination issues by keeping the old struts or replacing them.

Happened to me! Reseal the glass to the frame before new struts... Or, don't get new struts. Trust me, not a lotta shops know how to reseal the glass to the frame.

It just seems that if the rear hatch is going to delaminate it will. I presently have a 85.5 that I put new hatch shocks on two years ago and all is well today, without any delamination. Where as I have heard from many that the new shocks will cause the separation of the rear hatch because of the pressure they exert. There again I have seen many rear glass separation with old and weak hatch shocks also.

I will have to agree that to re-seal the rear hatch once it has separated is a real PITA. So it is still up to the owner to decide whether to install new shocks, install a good but soft used set, or keep the old ones. This may be a debate that will go on and on...

I don't see why it would matter since the struts mount to the metal frame that the window glues to. It will not cause any delamination that wasn't already there.

Dawgz83948 - That is what I would think too. The strut attaches to the frame, under the glass. It is always pushing up on the glass, always pushing the frame against the glass. That shouldn't cause it to delaminate. I would think that it is going to delaminate no matter what, from old age.

I am going to order new struts. I just want them.

No worries with my cab ;)

On a serious note, I think that opening the hatch a lot is the biggest problem. Also, I don't know if anyone else noticed this but 924's don't seem nearly as effected by this issue. My 924 had the strongest hatch shock you will ever see but the hatch was just fine. Ditto with a few other 924's I've seen. Why is that.

Jackson

I just bought a used hatch from a member here when it seperated. Was alot easier than trying to reseal.

Greenwater,
Stop by the shop and pick out a better rear hatch. $100.
The problem is that the top of the frame is attached to the body of the car. The shock/strut is attached:
at its rearmost to the glass
at its foremost- to the chassis
So when the hatch is closed, the shocks are constantly pushing backwards on the hatch glass. After years of continuous force, the glass starts moving backwards out from under the very top trim piece. Look for the dimples along the top edge of the hatch glass. These started life under the top trim piece. If you just need to make it thru the winter, silicone the top edge. Come spring time, remove the hatch, remove the top trim piece, separate the glass from the top frame with a razor............well, I guess it's time to make another video, huh?

I've put new struts on all 3 of the cars I've had and never had an issue. I am careful to shut them easy and use both hands to do so.

Timmay! - Thanks, now I know why the frame wasn't even touching the glass on the top left side. I already siliconed it so no more water will leak in. Maybe this next summer I will reseal my hatch.

Yeah, it's not a matter of being careful while closing the hatch. It's that the struts push so hard that they move the hatch, which moves the pins relative to the body. When you change the struts to new ones they push even harder.

No it's not. It's connected to the metal frame that the glass is glued onto.

I resealed my hatch glass according to Clark's Garage this past summer, and after giving it time to set and rest and all that, I replaced the hatch struts. Those things were so strong they would sometimes lift the hatch open while driving. I adjusted the hatch pins to compensate, but still sometimes it would happen going over railroad tracks or bumps in the road. The last straw was when I noticed that my glass had come loose AGAIN. I took the new struts off, and the glass which was before projecting above the frame was right back in place. I caulked the gaps with silicone and threw those struts away! Now I just use a length of PVC to hold the hatch open.

Knowing what I know now, I would not have replaced the struts.

I use an extending squeegee to hold the glass up. I simply would not risk facing the consequence of new shocks.

When I get some time I will check out my hatch closer. Maybe I won't put new struts on it. I just hate lifting the hatch everytime.

To the guys that use a pole or something like it to hold up their hatch. Where are you putting the pole, where on the hatch and where inside the trunk? If you put in on one side of the hatch, doesn't that tweek the hatch sideways? I would think that would be even worse for the seal than using new struts. Is there a need for a better solution? Seems like it to me.