Celica Forums Install Guides and Technical Articles Exterior Guides Trunk Shocks - How To Replace (Genuine Toyota OEM)

There are many names used for this exact same part: prop, strut, shock, spring, rod, or gas spring. But the accurate industry name for them is, "GAS CHARGED LIFT SUPPORTS." Gas Charged Lift Supports hold up hatches, trunks, hoods, liftgates, and windows. Over 70% of the vehicles produced in the United States today have Gas Charged Lift Supports.



How to tell if your lift supports need to be replaced:

* Your lift support is beginning to wear-out when the trunk/hatch is difficult to lift, begins to sag when its in an open position, or cant be held into position without some other propping device. This is very dangerous!

* All lift supports eventually have to be replaced because they have a small gas-charge which naturally escapes over time through the lift support seal.

* Lift supports generally wear-out in 5-7 years. Extremes in weather (extreme hot or cold) or abnormally excessive opening or closing will shorten the life of your lift support.

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There are three different types of Liftgate/Trunk Support Assembly (shocks) for the 2000+ Toyota Celica:

A) WITHOUT WING (economy/weakest)

B) WITH WING (standard)...
I have these with my Kaminari wing.
For the most part, they work just fine in California's warm climate.
Cold/damp weather seems to give it a bit of troubles staying up though.

C) WITH WING & WITH REAR WIPER (luxury/strongest)...
This is also the set that comes standard when you purchase the Action Package (aka TRD) Wing

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Each "Back Door Stay" (trunk shock) is about $115 (Set of two is about $230)

Before purchasing a new set, check which ones you currently have installed. The part number is listed on the outside of your Liftgate/Trunk Support Assembly (shocks) - Reference it to item 5 on the price sheet below...

How to replace your lift supports

Always replace lift supports in pairs. Like windshield wipers, lift supports work as a pair.

No special tools are required: a socket wrench and pair of pliers are in most cases all you will need. Most people can replace their old lift supports in a matter of minutes.

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BACK DOOR STAY REPLACEMENT

A few years ago, I purchased a set from http://www.autopartspeople.com ( DIRECT LINK [partswebsite.com] ) APP tends to sell Genuine Toyota OEM parts for usually less than what your local Toyota dealership sells the same parts for. Toyota OEM parts were what I ordered and that was exactly what I received. Thank you APP

The parts arrived in about a week and were a bit tricky to install, only because of the loc-tite that was used by Toyota to keep the bolts in place. Everything else was straight forward and was a simple install.

HOW TO REMOVE BACK DOOR STAY
1. Remove the bolt and back door stay from the back door panel.
HINT: USE A STICK (or a friend) TO HOLD THE TRUNK UP WHILE YOU WORK ON REPLACING YOUR TRUNK SHOCKS.

2. Remove the 2 bolts and back door stay from the body.
Do not strip the bolts by trying to unscrew them with only regular tools. For these bolts that were "impossible" to remove, I used a gas BBQ lighter [google.com] to heat up the "loctite" glue (blue) that Toyota used on the OEM trunk-shocks so it could be unscrewed from the trunk hatch.

More information on using heat to remove loctite can be found at: http://www.ehow.com/how_5201363_remove-loctite-bolts.html -- If you've never done this before, searching YouTube videos for "how to remove loctite bolt" could provide additional help.


NOTICE: When handling the back door stay...
* Do not disassemble the back door stay because the cylinder is filled with pressurized gas.
* The gas is colorless, odorless and non-toxic.*
* When working, handle the back door stay carefully.
* Never score or scratch the exposed part of the piston rod, and never allow paint or oil to get on it.
* Do not turn the piston rod and cylinder with the back door stay fully extended.


HOW TO INSTALL BACK DOOR STAY
1. Install the 2 bolts and back door stay to the body.
Torque: 8.3 N-m (85 kgf-cm, 74 in.-lbf)

2. Install the bolt and back door stay to the back door panel.
Torque: 26 N-m (270 kgf-cm, 20 ft-lbf)

The simple/cost-effective solution to the trunk not staying up on its own is a standard utility stick.
Sells for under $10 from any home repair center such as HomeDepot or OSH...

Satoshi's setup...




My previous setup...

Here is a guide to replacing trunk shocks using aftermarket shocks from "Lift Supports Depot"...
https://celicahobby.com/forums/ubbt...k-Shocks-How-To-Replace-Aftermarket.html

Here are few more aftermarket companies that make gas charged lift supports for many other vehicles. They may also make them for the 2000+ Toyota Celica, but I recommend using genuine Toyota parts whenever possible.