Installed Woods Tail Gate Strut. Placed order Thursday it arrived Saturday. The install is pretty straight forward but does take a little time to make it look like clean
Here is the install process. A bit lengthy but wanted to provide as much detail as possible as this is not just a slap it on and go item if you want it to look good.

Pull out gate gasket and peel back carpet on hinge side of Jeep


Remove the right rear tail light assy for added light and access to tighten bracket nuts


Remove the rear Plastic cover from the tail gate. To prevent damaging the small top hooks push down on the top to unlatch them then pull out the bottom 5 push snaps.
(use the cover to hold the nut's bolts, and stuff from the kit so they don't get lost)




Remove the foam from the hidden compartment. Push up on the foam from underneath the jeep. Remove through taillight opening.



Using a torpedo level mark the pinch seem level with the bottom of the top gate bolt


Draw a line from the pinch seem mark towards the front of the Jeep again using the level
(note if your jeep is black you may need to scribe these marks as sharpie doesn't show well) Mark your fist hole below the line as indicated in the instructions.
Drill the first hole and bolt the bracket to sheet metal.


Level the bracket and mark the other two holes then drill some more.


Make sure the bolts fit then remove bracket and paint the holes. (paint is optional)


While the paint is drying perform the rear mount prep. Cut the two center wire retainers and remove from tailgate.


Counter boar the two holes that held the wire reainters then drill 2 holes for screw retainers.


Paint the bare steel and while that dries install the front bracket now that that paint is dry.
You will also need to split the carpet to fit around the bracket. I removed a strip about 1/8 inch wide.


Next install the rear gate bracket using the inserts provided and the aluminum mounting bar. Install (if not already done) the expanding bolt retainer into one of the bracket cut outs.


Install this into one of the drilled holes in the gate.


Holding the bolt head tighten the nut to collapse the expanding retainer. This will take several turns but will get tight when compressed. Once tight remove the bolt, nut and washer (install tool) and do the same for the other side.


Once the bracket is installed mount the strut retainer as illustrated routing the wire behind the bracket.


Place the rear Plastic cover in position and mark the edges of the rear ball bracket.


Remove about 1/8th of an inch of plastic between the marks for clearance of the bracket and re-install the plastic cover. An exacto knife with a new blade makes this an easy task if you take a little at a time.


Fold your carpet over the front mount and re-install the gate seal.


Install the front of the strut (small end) by snapping over ball then install the rear.
Drink a beer and admire your work.


This strut is very strong and you may need to hold your gate when opening as it will open by itself.

The install took about 1.5 hours including taking pictures. It can be done quicker but I wanted a clean install and it was over 100 degrees so no need to work fast.

So far very happy with the delivery, Quality of items an instructions. Can't wait to try it on hill.

 

Very helpful write-up. The pictures are greatly appreciated. I always say you can't take enough when trying to show all the details. Looks really well done!

 

Nice job on the write up! Plenty of pics and good information needed for the install!

 

I was in the market for one of these but was hesitant due to the fact that some people complained that the bolts to the door started to come off and basically it just turned to shit from that point on

so there are no bolts that go inside the back panel of the rear door?...Tire size also makes a difference on what strength strut is needed as well correct?


Nice right up, this will help alot

Alfy

 

yes, a heavier tire will cause more momentum to build faster, as will the incline you are parked on will, and if enough speed is generated then the force can be great enough to snatch on the fully lengthened strut and possibly pull out some bolts or bend some sheet metal they're attached to......just my opinion and what that tire weight/speed/incine is to do damage....dont know lol ; but taking an educated guess you should be fine with the strut in the pictures (going by looks of it, i dont know the actual specs of it) unless you're parked on a 50 degree incline or more with 37's or larger and open your tailgate and let go, or at least i wouldnt try it, but it could probably still hold....like i said jus my opinion also it looks like the strut's engineers designed it to break during this high stress crisis, at the plastic clips on the ends where it connects to the mounting points.....however i'm not an engineer yet

 

The open stop is not the strut when installed in the proper position. The hard stop is what ever Jeep has in place. The PITA factor of this install was trying to compress the strut enough to place it over the ball mounts as the gate would not open any farther.

The insrtuctions indicate the factory stop is still the stop as it is stronger.

 

Great write up.

 

Nice job! Good of you to inclde pix.

 

Wow, great write-up Waterdog. Thanks for putting this together.

 

Great point.

Knock on wood, I've never heard of this happening with one of my kits. I sell an upgrade kit to fix kits from other manufacturers' who've had these problems. The difference being, I use a custom made support bar and super heavy duty threaded inserts. These threaded inserts install a nut inside the back panel of the door.

I've run different tires sizes on my JK with this kit. By far, the incline that you are parked on, effects how much stress is put on the tailgate hinges, more than the weight of the tire. I never rely on the strut to open the tailgate. I always hand hold it, so as to not stress the factory hinges.