MatthewMiller

I need to replace my hatch lift support struts on my 96 coupe. I have questions:

• Are there separate left and right struts with different part numbers? It's a little confusing searching for this. For example, Rockauto and some others show two different part numbers from StrongArm: 4903 and 4904, needing one of each. But StrongArm's own website shows that I just need two 4903 struts.
• Is one brand any better than another? I guess the big names are StrongArm and Monroe. If I don't want to spend twice as much for AC Delco, is one aftermarket any better than another?

cdm747

I bought these last year. Still working great.

mazdaverx7

I've used Strong Arm hydraulic struts on several of my Porsche 944's hoods over the years and they have always worked great. As for the hatch struts having two different part numbers, I would order as suggested, one for the left and one for the right to be on the safe side. I also see different manufactures selling them as the same part number. Very confusing indeed.

cdm747

I just looked at the ones I bought from Amazon. Both have same part number and work great.

CorvetteRules

For my 91 I bought struts in November from Corvette America 34330 and 34331 (with defogger). Went from hatch barely clearing the latch to saluting like a army private being surprised by a 5 star general.

RockyL32

MatthewMiller

I thought that, too. But I do have defrost and both struts have electrical connections top and bottom. They both connect to the defroster grid at the top and to the power source (right strut) and ground (left strut) at their bottoms. Anyway, for whatever most (but not all) sources show two different part #s for left and right struts, so that's what I'll get.

aklim

I'd go to an Autozone or Advance or something local for this one. Give them the part number and order it. When it goes south, it is a lifetime warranty and you don't have to screw around with someone who may not exist anymore on the internet. OTOH, you can buy it from someone who has been around for a while and is not likely to go out of business soon.

Z51JEFF

cdm747

Mine are both the same number and terminals lined up perfect.

yd328

For my 95 I purchased a pair from my local Carquest parts store that had the same number. They had a ring for the defroster connections that were universal and spun on the shaft for the defroster connection. The connections seemed cheap, they were returned. I ended up going with the Monroe Max lift with different part numbers.

Gary

Paul Workman

My 90 is on its 2nd pair of struts, and they need replacing again in only 10 years! They are from one of the so-called Corvette parts and accessory outlets.

I don't know how long they should last, but more than 4 years or so, wouldn't ya think??

Boy, if there's anything I hate, its replacing a part only to have it go bad again (tires, brakes, etc excluded, of course). I'd be interested to hear whatever you decide to get.

c4cruiser

I bought these struts from for my '87 coupe. They had the electrical connections at each end for the defog grid. Once I installed the struts, the back hatch glass would pretty much open by itself when I pushed the release button. It actually took a bit of effort to close the hatch.