Replacing rear hatch hydraulics

[newprot5fan]

SO lately my rear hatch doesn't stay open at all. Obviously the hydraulics are shot. Is there a way to tell which one is shot or do you just go ahead and replace both?

Just curious....

Thanks!

 

[wiprotege5]

Well, You could take both of them off and compare them in how fast they retract or compare the amount of force it takes to compress are how much force they put out.

I found the OEM replacements, kinda pricey, so maybe comparing them could save some money.

http://www.trademotion.com/partloca...6617&callout=9&catalogid=2&displayCatalogid=0

 

[echofall]

I buy them for fairly cheap at farm and fleet. If one goes I prefer to replace both, just like i do for my headlights.

 

[P-Funk!]

It is a worn air seal (they are pneumatic not hydraulic). So i would replace both - you don't want the new one going bad trying to compensate for the other one going bad...

 

[pasadena_commut]

Well, You could take both of them off and compare them in how fast they retract or compare the amount of force it takes to compress are how much force they put out.

I found the OEM replacements, kinda pricey, so maybe comparing them could save some money.

http://www.trademotion.com/partloca...6617&callout=9&catalogid=2&displayCatalogid=0

No way Mazda makes that part itself, so for the best price try to find the original manufacturer and buy as close to direct from them as possible. Usually on such a part one can clean it off, which reveals an inscrutable string of letters and numbers. Punch that text into Google to find the part.

Since I am not near my car, instead searched for:
hatchback pneumatic lift cylinder

Here is one link found that way:


http://www.autopartsbylou.com/lift-...DA&model=Protege5&year=2003&type=mmy&x=27&y=2

They currently have a 10% discount on all parts with code SAVE10. Also go here:

http://www.autopartsbylou.com/index.php

and find the names of some of the manufacturers, if you want to hunt more.

 

[wiprotege5]

No way Mazda makes that part itself,

Showa makes them.

 

[newprot5fan]

SO i just ordered the arms for the rear hatch. Looking at the old ones on there now, the part that is attached to the actual hatch, does that just pop off? It looks like the arm is pushed onto a ball and I am just wondering if there is a trick to gett ing it off and getting the new one on.

THanks

 

[newprot5fan]

SO i just ordered the arms for the rear hatch. Looking at the old ones on there now, the part that is attached to the actual hatch, does that just pop off? It looks like the arm is pushed onto a ball and I am just wondering if there is a trick to gett ing it off and getting the new one on.

THanks

BUMP..I just don't want to break off the ball...

 

[Weborific]

Hi!
The ball is bolted to the hatchback door. The part itself is a ball on one end, that comes down to a hexagonal section (for screwing/unscrewing purposes), and a threaded shaft. If I remember correctly (I replaced mine 2 years ago), you should be able to just knock the piston towards the center of the car so that it pops off the ball. I think mine wouldn't come off so I just unscrewed the ball and replaced both ball and piston. I THINK the ball was around $7. After installing new ones on the car, I greased them up (including the socket in the piston that the ball goes into) and popped the new shocks in place. Hope this helps!

 

[newprot5fan]

Hi!
The ball is bolted to the hatchback door. The part itself is a ball on one end, that comes down to a hexagonal section (for screwing/unscrewing purposes), and a threaded shaft. If I remember correctly (I replaced mine 2 years ago), you should be able to just knock the piston towards the center of the car so that it pops off the ball. I think mine wouldn't come off so I just unscrewed the ball and replaced both ball and piston. I THINK the ball was around $7. After installing new ones on the car, I greased them up (including the socket in the piston that the ball goes into) and popped the new shocks in place. Hope this helps!

Thanks man..I'll try that. I don't have replacement "balls" LOL, just the pistons, so i'm trying not to break the balls - I gotta stop typing this - too funny!

Cheers!

 

[Weborific]

I've had to get my balls replaced every week since I got married. Only once due to shock replacement, the rest due to a wife that keeps busting them...

 

[newprot5fan]

I've had to get my balls replaced every week since I got married. Only once due to shock replacement, the rest due to a wife that keeps busting them...

ok, so I can't get the ball out of the socket. I had to take the part that attaches to the hatch and leave it in the removed piston! So now I can't install the new ones.

Now what? Even if I order replacements, how the hell do I get them in the socket? Mind you, I don't live where there is a dealership, so I would love to know how to get the old ones out of the socket....

THanks!

 

[newprot5fan]

ok, so I can't get the ball out of the socket. I had to take the part that attaches to the hatch and leave it in the removed piston! So now I can't install the new ones.

Now what? Even if I order replacements, how the hell do I get them in the socket? Mind you, I don't live where there is a dealership, so I would love to know how to get the old ones out of the socket....

THanks!

All done....Had to grind the old ones out of the socket!!!

 

[Tukalama]

just subbin some good info on here