Replacing trunk struts (Y34) - how much work is involved?

[szh]

I have received my new struts that I had ordered from a third-party source. My plan was to keep it simple and get the dealer to do the install for me - in the interest of time and "getting round to it" myself. But they want $243 for this work! And this seems like way too much ... I think!

What I see in the Service Manual seems a bit more vague than I would like for me to attempt it with guidance and some questions.

So, on a 2003 M45 (Y34), how much effort and time is involved in changing out the trunk struts? Is it something that anybody could do fairly easily? Anyone have pictures of when they did the work?

Thanks much!

Z

[BadQ45t]

That is a pretty simple job. I had similar work on struts that hold up my 300zx rear hatch and it took my 2rd party mechanic 5 minutes per side, no charge. Infiniti dealers in the bay suck when it comes to throwing you any solids. If you don't have a good mechanic near you drive up to san bruno and let Richard's Auto repair do it.

[szh]

Hi, Jeff.

Good to hear from you!

I think that hood struts and hatch struts are easier to remove since it is easy to access both ends of the struts. Unfortunately, the trunk struts on a Y34 require rear seat removal from what I can tell from the Service Manual. At least, that is how I interpret the write-up in there (no pictures/diagrams provided though!).

Which is why I was hoping that someone had some experience with the trunk struts - either to tell me that the seat removal is required, or that it can be done without doing that! I have never removed the rear seats on my M45 (or any car for that matter), so am not sure what is involved.

Z

[Double E]

It's not too daunting as far asa I can see.
I have to do this soon too. What struts did you get? Model #?

We can work together on this if you want...

[szh]

It's not too daunting as far asa I can see.

That is reassuring. Thanks!

I have to do this soon too. What struts did you get? Model #?

From this page: http://www.spdhardware.com/catalog/GSNI ... s%20Spring, I got the GSNI-5150-80 ... price is $15.84 each, but this is way less than even the OEM ones, with discounted prices, of over $100 each from http://www.everythinginfiniti.com.

This should be the right dimension (15" extended, 9" compressed, 6" stroke, 80 lbs) for the trunk struts for a Y34 (2003 and 2004 M45).

My guesstimate is that the 80lb pressure will do more than unlatch and pop the trunk - these should open the trunk quite a ways and maybe even all the way in warm weather, but this is a guess so far. According to the previous poster who used them, they fit well but did not open all the way in cold weather (which is the bane of hood and trunk struts).

We can work together on this if you want...

Thanks! I am hoping to get to these next week - am taking a few days of holidays after Christmas ... I will take pictures of my attempts and post them here.

Z

[iakona]

it's very time consuming. the rear seat bottom must come out. then the trunk panels, being careful not to break the clips. then you can reeeeeeach in and undo the struts. took me a while, but i'm quite retentive.

i bought the stronger ones from Burtman Ind. i must say, i do like them. they were initially a bit too strong, but have calmed down some over the past couple months.

[Double E]

Super!!! iakona..From Burtman....what was the item number?

[iakona]

i dunno. they only have the one setup available.


but when you click the trunk release button...the trunk opens. it's amazing. a frkn revelation. hahaha. like i said, a bit much at first, but it's calmed down some. it'll surprise you at first, that's for sure.

[szh]

then the trunk panels, being careful not to break the clips.

I was able to do mine without removing the trunk panels or rear deck ... have posted extended procedure here: replace-trunk-struts-on-my-2003-m45-y34 ... 69117.html

Z

[RAGTPZ]

Took me about a half hour to do mine when I had my Y34. Taking the back seat out is a breeze so don't let that stop you. From what I remember I don't think you really need to take the trunk panels out but I did at the time. I would start at the rear seat first and then move backwards to the rear to the trunk and make that determination.

[szh]

Took me about a half hour to do mine when I had my Y34. Taking the back seat out is a breeze so don't let that stop you. From what I remember I don't think you really need to take the trunk panels out but I did at the time. I would start at the rear seat first and then move backwards to the rear to the trunk and make that determination.

Agreed. Took about 30 minutes - the link in my above post has the details.

Z