Replacing Trunk Lift Struts

As far as the trunk struts...they are easy, I have not done the hatch struts...
DO NOT try to get the old posts off the old struts, unless you are poor and have lots of time. Replacing the struts with new ball posts will take 5-10 minutes, opposed to trying to cut them from the old shocks could take hours. I think I paid $8-9 for each ball post.


Pull the clip off w/ needle nose pliers(Put a towel or pad on the car)
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Unscrew ball stud w/ 12mm wrench
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Screw in new posts, put top of new shock on trunk top and replace clip, then push the bottom of the shock on the ball stud, it will easily click on.
 

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Replacing the struts with new ball posts will take 5-10 minutes, opposed to trying to cut them from the old shocks could take hours. I think I paid $8-9 for each ball post.
Click to expand...

BUT BUT BUT

You don't need to cut the old ones out...just use a sharp pick to remove the internal retaining ring. Takes 5-10 minutes. Yes, the side with the ball, on the rim of the trunk.

Mine are about ready to go again (7 years) so I'll have to document the process.

Drew

/It is about maximizing your time and money on earth. A post tax expenditure of $20 over 10-20 minutes is a lot of money. If you are poor, you get to keep your money so you can be rich. If you are already rich: it's about staying that way.
//good write up though
 
I also tried to replace the trunk struts today and I would rather NOT replace the ball studs, as Acura does not provide them in color. The studs on my car are the originally-painted Monaco Blue ones, and I want to keep them. Drew, could you be a little more detailed in what and how you "picked" the inner ring off the strut socket, while the ball was still attached? Thank you.

.
 
drew said:
BUT BUT BUT

You don't need to cut the old ones out...just use a sharp pick to remove the internal retaining ring. Takes 5-10 minutes. Yes, the side with the ball, on the rim of the trunk.

Mine are about ready to go again (7 years) so I'll have to document the process.

Drew

/It is about maximizing your time and money on earth. A post tax expenditure of $20 over 10-20 minutes is a lot of money. If you are poor, you get to keep your money so you can be rich. If you are already rich: it's about staying that way.
//good write up though
Click to expand...

Drew,
Please do document the details with your picking technique. I tried a couple of times and almost got it, but it didn't come off the ball. LIke MisterNSX, I would like to keep the original painted ball studs. I will replace the ball stud as my last option when everything else failed. Thanks in advance.
Alan
 
Please do document the details with your picking technique.
Click to expand...

Agg, my struts do not quite yet need replacement and it has been several years since I did this.

I got success with a dental pick and a small screwdriver, clean off the inner ball joint and you should see the retaining ring.

There are a few other folks that have done just this in the past few months and have posted. They should have a clearer memory/technique.

Drew
 
I think the PICKING procedures goes something like this.

1. Remove trunk struts from the car.
2. Get a dentist pick and try to pry out the ring around the ball joint.
3. Curse at trunk struts and ball joint.
4. Try again.
5. Curse again.
6. Try this for about 15 more times.
7. Go in the house to get a cold beer.
8. If wife asks you if you are done yet, just roll your eyes and don't say a word. But don't let her see do this....
9. Go back to the garage.
10. Try again.
11. Curse again.
12. Throw the trunk struts against the floor.
13. Start up the NSX and redline all the way to the nearest Acura Dealer.
14. Pay for the ball joints using your wife's credit card for asking that stupid question "Are you done yet?".

Oops. I forgot a step between 7 and 8:

7.5) Kick the dog/cat on the way to the fridge.

:biggrin:
 
Last edited:
vsy05 said:
I think the PICKING procedures goes something like this.

1. Remove trunk struts from the car.
2. Get a dentist pick and try to pry out the ring around the ball joint.
3. Curse at trunk struts and ball joint.
4. Try again.
5. Curse again.
6. Try this for about 15 more times.
7. Go in the house to get a cold beer.
8. If wife asks you if you are done yet, just roll your eyes and don't say a word. But don't let her see do this....
9. Go back to the garage.
10. Try again.
11. Curse again.
12. Through the trunk struts against the floor.
13. Start up the NSX and redline all the way to the nearest Acura Dealer.
14. Pay for the ball joints using your wife's credit card for asking that stupid question "Are you done yet?".

Oops. I forgot a step between 7 and 8:

7.5) Kick the dog/cat on the way to the frig.

:biggrin:
Click to expand...

LOL:biggrin:

I tried cutting them out and did ok but nicked the ball a tad even thought it would still function it would bother me, since I had ordered new ones, I just used those. It does bother me a bit that they aren't the same color, but I will pull them out(assembly) tape off and paint them at some point to match. Be a twenty minute job at the most.
 
I have put off doing this until now. The best $80 I have spent. My dealer matched the online price. :wink:
 
I called our local dealer yesterday and his quote was almost twice what they are online. His prices were more than SRP. Needless to say, I ordered online as soon as I got off the phone.
 
I replaced my trunk struts and removed the ball ends with two dental tools. The secret is to push the round clip into the socket, opposite side from the split, with one of the tools and take the other tool and lift one of the ends of the split in the ring out. As the end starts to come out take the first tool and lift under the ring and gently move around the socket.

The first one took me about 10 minutes to figure it out and the second one took about 5 min. It would have taken a lot longer if my wife would have been there watching me telling me what to do, may never have gotten it!

If shipping was more inexpensive I would be glad to switch anybodys for them, now that I am back in Idaho, not Afghanistan. Shipping would probably cost what the new ball studs cost. Oh, well the offer stands. No charge for NSX owners!

BTW it is sure nice to be able to drive my car again. I didn't realize how much I enjoy driving it. I just love burning that $3.00/gal gas.
Brad
 
Thanks to Larry Bastanza's suggestion. Today, I finally had some time to replace my trunk struts and saving the original painted ball stud. I used 2 cut off disks to cut through to the inner spring (on the first strut), and I was able to remove the inner spring partially using a dental pick, and the socket was easily separated from the ball stud without having to crack the bottom half of the strut socket. The ball stud remains painted with original paint. I'll work on the second strut next weekend. Thanks again Larry Bastanza for your suggestion.
 
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I actually found this thread through a Google search and it has relevance to my recent upgrade. Thought some might find this info useful.

I just replaced my oem trunk struts with Cimota struts. They come complete with NEW ball studs, so there's no need to worry about extracting the old ones. Super easy drop-in replacement. 60 lbs. compression each which does a great job holding the trunk up.

trunkstruts-2.jpg


They go for around $50 / pair.
 
NSX-Appeal said:
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I actually found this thread through a Google search and it has relevance to my recent upgrade. Thought some might find this info useful.

I just replaced my oem trunk struts with Cimota struts. They come complete with NEW ball studs, so there's no need to worry about extracting the old ones. Super easy drop-in replacement. 60 lbs. compression each which does a great job holding the trunk up.

trunkstruts-2.jpg


They go for around $50 / pair.
Click to expand...

May ask I where? Website? Thanks
 
I don't know about the Cimota struts but I do know that Frank Irvine at Strutwise does excellent work on these struts. He's doing a set for a friend's NSX now.

Good work, quick turn-around, reasonable price.

HTH
 
How much does Strutwise charge for a pair with shipping back and forth Ken?
 
ChopsJazz said:
Not sure. I just spoke with Frank and he had me ship them without any payment as he will total the cost of repair and shipping and send me a bill.

I'll let you know when I get them back.
Click to expand...

:eek:Oh Great! Those are my struts Ken sent to Frank. Now Ken is going to give me a bill for $1,000,000!:eek: Just kidding.:biggrin:

Ken, now do I have to buy you lunch for the next 400 years.

Hope you and Hal have fun on Monday and get your limits.

Thanks again for doing this.

Doug
 
I was just curious because I checked his website but didn't see any pricing. Maybe I just didn't look in the right place.

So far I'm loving the Cimota's. That "goose egg" on my head is finally starting to go away. :smile:
 
NSX-Appeal said:
I was just curious because I checked his website but didn't see any pricing. Maybe I just didn't look in the right place.
Click to expand...

Frank's pricing has always been very reasonable, but it has admittedly been awhile since I've used his service.

Just hang out a few more days and I'll have a price for you.
 

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