Rear Hatch Strut Replacement

[KG Cruiser]

I'm trying to remove the rear hatch Strut but I can't get the Strut to come off either of the ball thingies that are screwed into the hatch and the rear of the truck.

Is there a trick to this?

I don't want to break anything applying too much pressure to pry the Strut off the balls.

 

[Cincodemustache]

I just took a 14mm (if I recall) wrench to the nut attached to the pivot ball. That nut threads right into the tailgate. Used blue threadlocker when I reinstalled the new struts.

 

[Tylerh84]

There is usually a C clip on the back side of the mount where the ball attaches pull that out then you can pop the strut off. Or you can just unscrew the ball mount off while it is attached to the strut. I just did mine not too long ago.

 

[KG Cruiser]

I just went out to have another look at the struts.
It looks like they may be the originals.
I used a 12mm wrench to remove the threaded bolt (which has the ball on one end and threads on the other end) and it looks like this bolt with the ball end is not intended to come off.

I looked at the new struts that I purchased and sure enough, there were new bolts with the ball ends on them includ d in the package.

I just thought the struts would pop right off but the originals don't appear to work that way.

Thanks for the replies!