Install new trunk lifts - remove old ball joints?? Options

[pflau]

Hi. I need to install new after market trunk lifts and thus need to remove the old ones. Do I need to unscrew and discard the old ball joints or can I somehow remove the old lifts and fit the new lifts over the old ball joints? Thanks.

[projectgt]

No you don't have to remove the ball that hooks to the actual hatch. The trunk lift has like a thin metal wrapped around the ball, get a flat head and insert it in between that metal and the plastic. Once you've done that it should pull out of the ball, just don't completely remove that metal because it sucks putting it back on lol. Good luck and pm me if u need more help.

[pflau]

No you don't have to remove the ball that hooks to the actual hatch. The trunk lift has like a thin metal wrapped around the ball, get a flat head and insert it in between that metal and the plastic. Once you've done that it should pull out of the ball, just don't completely remove that metal because it sucks putting it back on lol. Good luck and pm me if u need more help.

Hi. Thanks for the response. But I can't seem to find the thin metal. Here is a close-up picture of the lift socket:



I got a couple after market lifts from eBay - so I guess the size of the ball joints is universal and I can be sure that my new after market lifts would fit right on the old balls then? Thanks.