Tonneau struts
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Conyers Georgia
Tonneau struts
I put my top down for the first time since purchasing it in December. The tonneau cover did not stay up on it's own. I know there are two struts for the cover but they are tucked way up in the truck sidewall. I can't see anyway of replacing them without amputating half my torso and getting in the trunk. Anybody replaced theirs that may have a tip for me?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Conyers Georgia
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From: Oregon
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I put my top down for the first time since purchasing it in December. The tonneau cover did not stay up on it's own. I know there are two struts for the cover but they are tucked way up in the truck sidewall. I can't see anyway of replacing them without amputating half my torso and getting in the trunk. Anybody replaced theirs that may have a tip for me?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Conyers Georgia
I have an ex wife but I think asking her to get in the trunk could be problematic. 
I do have two sons however. The oldest is 6ft4 so it'll have to be the youngest. Although I suppose with the roof up I could maneuver my legs into the passengers compartment.
I do have two sons however. The oldest is 6ft4 so it'll have to be the youngest. Although I suppose with the roof up I could maneuver my legs into the passengers compartment.
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Let the youngest son give it a try. Your body may just thank your for that.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
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From: Conyers Georgia
Burning Brakes
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You don’t need to go in the trunk at all.
Search in the forum and you’ll find the way to do it without contorsion. And probably if you are tall enough 5f5, you just need to bend. It take 10min max for both.
all the best,
TcFS
Search in the forum and you’ll find the way to do it without contorsion. And probably if you are tall enough 5f5, you just need to bend. It take 10min max for both.
all the best,
TcFS
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Drifting
Joined: May 2008
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From: Denver, NC
I put my top down for the first time since purchasing it in December. The tonneau cover did not stay up on it's own. I know there are two struts for the cover but they are tucked way up in the truck sidewall. I can't see anyway of replacing them without amputating half my torso and getting in the trunk. Anybody replaced theirs that may have a tip for me?
I did not climb into the trunk and they popped off as described in the first post.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Conyers Georgia
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...placement.html
I did not climb into the trunk and they popped off as described in the first post.
I did not climb into the trunk and they popped off as described in the first post.
Burning Brakes
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From: Göteborg, Sweden, Europe
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@yellow2007 check here https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1578697941
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1597451446
best of luck!
TCFS
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1597451446
best of luck!
TCFS
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,568
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From: Conyers Georgia
@yellow2007 check here https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1578697941
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1597451446
best of luck!
TCFS
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1597451446
best of luck!
TCFS
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2022
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From: Surgoinsville, TN
I just changed mine yesterday. I relied on the post above for guidance, but the part that was not correct, at least in my case, was that the old ones did not just pop off and no amount of force was going to allow that to happen. There are spring clips that have to be released on each end of the old ones to allow them to be removed. The new ones also have the spring clips, but they will just pop on as described, but they did not just pop off. When changing these it is easier to put the rear side on first and raise the tonneau cover all the way up and then you can get the front side on. I tried the front one first, but could not compress the new struts, that's when I tried the rear first and had no problems.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Conyers Georgia
Doing the rear first then raising the tonneau cover is the only way to go. There's a video out there where a guy used his belt to compress the strut to make it fit........WRONG
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Washington State
I recently did mine. Put the new strut in approximate position. Snap the end near the rear of the car in first. Close trunk and open tonneau, snap the end in place that is towards the cockpit. Done.
Scott
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Yes, the correct procedure is to install the rear end, and then open the cover to install the front end. You should never try to compress the struts before installing them. That's just asking for trouble. As others have said, this takes like 10 minutes. I actually ended up doing mine by accident a few years ago. I needed to replace the struts for the trunk deck lid. I ended up ordering the tonneau cover struts by mistake. I ordered the correct part when I realized my mistake, but I figured since I had them, I would go ahead and replace the tonneau cover struts too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2021
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Don't overthink it. I did mine a few months ago, did not have to climb in the trunk. If you properly remove the spring clips and position the cover so there is minimal tension on the strut they will come off easily.
If you're up for a road trip this weekend come on by, I'll change them for you.
If you're up for a road trip this weekend come on by, I'll change them for you.