Help replacing power rear hatch struts on LX570 (1 Viewer)

[Docboy]

Hi fellow mudders,

The struts on the rear power hatch on my 2009 LX570 seems to be on the hind legs. Upon opening the rear hatch, it often only opens halfway before I have to manually push up the hatch for it to open fully. Getting tired of lifting it up manually, and have hit my head too many times, so I decided to replace the struts.

I ordered an aftermarket set off Amazon ($39.99), looks easy enough for a DIY and I don't want to spend $150 at the dealership if possible. Please see attached pics, my small wrench seems to be too big to remove the top part of the strut. Can anyone share what type of tool is needed to unscrew the superior portion of the strut?

How about the inferior portion of the strut, is a tool needed to remove the lower portion, or does the ball just "pop off" once the top portion if removed?

Thanks!

 

[KLF]

You want a socket wrench. Crescent wrenches are for rounding off bolts (and busting knuckles).

Yes the bottom will just pop off.

"Superior" and "inferior"... Love the medical terms...

 

[Docboy]

You want a socket wrench. Crescent wrenches are for rounding off bolts (and busting knuckles).

Yes the bottom will just pop off.

"Superior" and "inferior"... Love the medical terms...

Didn't realize it. I'm a dentist, so those terms are commonplace for me I should have just said "top" and "bottom"...

I tried a socket wrench, still can't get it to fit. If you can look at the 2nd pic, I circled in red what appears to be getting in the way. Do I need to remove all of this black "metal and rubber trim?" If this long piece "trim," which seems to be wrapped along the inner edge of the hatch, needs to be removed, that seems like more work and hassle. Any suggestions?

 

[bloc]

Combination wrench. One open end, one “box” or enclosed end. Fits into tighter spaces better.

Also you’ll need an open wrench to unscrew the ball post from the body for the bottom end.

Make sure you use metric wrenches instead of standard ones that are “close enough”

 

[grinchy]

try your toolkit in the tailgate. It has an open end wrench in it that should fit. It is under a carpeted plate behind two open/close plastic toggles.

 

[JeffH]

Mine are getting weak as well, Does the $39.99 set work as good as stock ones? Do you have a link for which ones you bought?

Thanks

 

[tabraha]

Mine are starting to make some noise due to the amount of gravel roads they've seen. I think it's finally infiltrated the seals on the shocks. Let us know how they work out for sure. I've bought plenty off of Amazon for 100's and even my 911 frunk that have all worked well.

 

[Docboy]

Mine are getting weak as well, Does the $39.99 set work as good as stock ones? Do you have a link for which ones you bought?

Thanks

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HH0OQKK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I like the warranty, and wanted a 3rd company to back up in case the purchase doesn't work out so I got it from Amazon which has been great at customer service. I believe there's a set on Ebay for $6 less fyi.

I still can't get the stock struts off. The screws won't budge; I tried a combination wrench as someone suggested, but the screw is tight as heck.

I'm going to try WD40 and the included screwdriver in the tailgate as @grinchy suggested later today after the office again.

 

[bloc]

The box end of a combination wrench should have no problem with the bolts on the upper end.

If the plastic guard is getting in the way of that type of wrench it might not allow the bolt to come all the way out without removal of the guard in the first place.

 

[Ali FJ80]

if the bolt wont budge extend the handle of the combination wrench for some extra leverage by putting a longer pipe over the handle.

thanks for the link my hatch has been a little weak since adding the ladder so I think some new struts may help.

 

[Bigtex]

Older thread, but I replaced my struts yesterday. My new-to-me 2001 hatch wouldn't go all the way up, leaving it right where I could bang my head on it every other time. Picked up aftermarket from Amazon, working great.

Concerning the bolt removal, mine were also wildly tight, and the uppers wanted to round off with an open end box wrench. I pulled the upper section of that plastic trim piece (3 Torx screws) away just enough so that I could get a socket on it. Way easier and safer.

 

[2014 LEX 570 GA]

Finally got around to doing this job with OEM replacement parts.

What a PITA this was given the location and angle of the brackets. Never dropped so many F bombs on such a small job.

 

[biff44]

i was about to post to WATCH YOUR EYES installing those.
they are under a lot of pressure, and as you try to remove and reinstall, if they get loose they can stab at your face! but you know that already.

ever since i replaced some on an RX350, i stay out of the line of fire as the door opens in suvs, just in case the strut slips off the tiny nipple sometime in the future