Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This is a fairly simple task. It took me about 30 minutes start to finish, but I had all the tools in easy access and am pretty handy. It took longer to write this review than to replace the 2 struts.
You may read that for some applications there are a left and right strut. If you look at struts on your tailgate, you will see a left sticker (blue) and a right sticker (red) on the 2 struts.
The 4699 has a blue sticker and fits (lines up to) the left side perfectly.
It will also fit the right side, but you have to do 1 thing so it will fit (line up): rotate the cylinder 1/4 turn counter clockwise. I did this by putting the rod end (JUST the clevis part) in a vice (gently very tighten) and turning the cylinder with my hand 1/4 turn ccw. The mechanism is not very tight, but it was tight enough so I couldn't hold the shiny rod end. DO NOT TIGHTEN THE VICE ON THE SHINY ROD; if you do you will have ruined the assembly. You could also hold the rod end clevis with a pair of pliers too I suppose.
After you rotate the rod assembly it will align perfectly to the right side door fasteners.
You will need a 3/8 inch drive ratchet and a T-40 TORX BIT SOCKET. The T-40 tool is needed to remove the 2 fasteners in each strut.
Prop the liftgate fully up with a 2 x 4 or get someone to hold it FULLY up. The liftgate must be fully extended, with a little force to remove and replace these struts. If you remove a strut without propping the liftgate it will fall on you and the strut will probably be flung sideways with some velocity.
Remove the bottom fastener first, then the top one.
Install each strut with the cylinder end up and the rod end down (as was the originals). Tighten the top fastener first, then the bottom one. Use a little finesse and common sense so you don't cross thread the bottom fastener; as the assembly is slightly longer that the attachment fastener spacing.
Good luck and don't hurt yourself!
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