Rear hatch strut, lower ball socket

[rex in bama]

The smallest of jobs can create a lot of frustration - anybody know the magic for separating the ball from the socket? Aisin replacement requires you to use the old ball joint. For the life of me I cannot get that inner circlip loose

 

[GrouchyTech]

Grab the ball and the shaft and twist.

I know what I said.

What I mean is, unscrew that ball/socket from the old and swap onto the new shaft.

 

[deanblitzer]

I went OEM as I read conflicting things online about non-OEM requiring reusing the ball and it didn’t seem to be easily removable. My other vehicles have a clip that holds the socket over the ball but this design doesn’t so I paid the extra $20 or so to simplify and not worry about trying to remove it. Bonus is that it’s OEM so should last a long long time. Good luck!

 

[rex in bama]

I went OEM as I read conflicting things online about non-OEM requiring reusing the ball and it didn’t seem to be easily removable. My other vehicles have a clip that holds the socket over the ball but this design doesn’t so I paid the extra $20 or so to simplify and not worry about trying to remove it. Bonus is that it’s OEM so should last a long long time. Good luck!

Yeah, thought the aisin product would be essentially oem. Unfortunately it is the neutered version (no ball).

 

[rex in bama]

Well, nothing a little bench grinder action can’t take care of. Ground a notch to better get at the imbedded circlip. New struts installed and hatch works great!

 

[GrouchyTech]

I just can’t understand why the Aisin gas struts don’t come with the ball. The ones for the hood do!