My Garage sucks, so….

[ScotM]

Since my TJ days, I’ve always run around with the rear glass open to get good air flow on nicer days. I tried this in my JL with the SOT, but the garage opening is too short. Gave Amazon $25 and just put the shorter gas struts on to lower the opening angle.

I always have the 392 floored, so there’s no chance of exhaust drafting in.

Check this out at Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW975NFW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Thanks, I want it to only go up as far as in your picture, so I got the 18”. There is far too much stress on the wiring with the stock shocks when the window is open. I think this will solve that issue

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[HungryHound]

On stabilus website, there is a pdf including all of their product, sorted by full/compressed length, ball size, shaft diameter, and resistant force. It’s a great reference. The one in my link fit exactly the jeep rear window with less height

I used that back when I still had an RV and all the cargo doors needed new struts. It is a really good resource.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

Those don’t work when the doors are off

Touché

 

[HungryHound]

Mine has handy things that can be removed for the best airflow and no worry about garage doors.

I had the soft top back in sunrider position (halfway back) on my Jeep (3.5” lift and 37s) when I went to back in one day. It wasn’t pretty. Luckily, I found a donor soft top that was wind torn, but the frame was in good shape for $85 locally. After replacing the 4 damaged top parts and one door surround part, it was back to normal. I figured if I forgot with the soft top, I’d forget with the glass, so I idiot-proofed it for my wife’s Jeep. I think they look better with the entire top removed anyway.

 

[LKG]

Since my TJ days, I’ve always run around with the rear glass open to get good air flow on nicer days. I tried this in my JL with the SOT, but the garage opening is too short. Gave Amazon $25 and just put the shorter gas struts on to lower the opening angle.

I always have the 392 floored, so there’s no chance of exhaust drafting in.

Check this out at Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW975NFW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And better aerodynamics, should keep your MPG's in the double digits

 

[dlong1119]

I just ordered a set of Stabilus struts (4B-544244) from RockAuto to give this a go... they have a 18.5" set with the same 36lbs of force and 10mm ball sockets as the stock struts. Total is just under $44 after shipping and tax. Will confirm all is good once they arrive in a few day!

RockAuto struts

 

[dlong1119]

Got the struts today and they don't fit properly. I used the link that @ym0bc1 posted above for the replacement Stabilus strut to look at the specs and that isn't the correct strut for our Jeeps.

We actually have an 8mm ball on the glass and a 10mm ball on the body, and 4B-524650 is the correct replacement. As such, the shorter struts are very loose on the glass bracket and I don't trust them, nor do I want them banging around when I hit bumps, even if they don't pop off.

As such, the Amazon struts that were originally posted here also aren't a correct fit as they appear to be 10mm on both ends. The Stabilus chart doesn't list any struts with mismatched ends, and I even unscrewed the ends from them in hopes of swapping the original onto the replacement, but the original uses an M6x1.0 thread and the replacement uses an M8x1.25 thread.

I've been searching for a replacement end with the correct thread and ball size but it looks like the 8mm ball isn't very common and there's not much available for it. I'm contemplating drilling and tapping the end, but I need to look closer tomorrow and see how much material would be left.

 

[ym0bc1]

Got the struts today and they don't fit properly. I used the link that @ym0bc1 posted above for the replacement Stabilus strut to look at the specs and that isn't the correct strut for our Jeeps.

We actually have an 8mm ball on the glass and a 10mm ball on the body, and 4B-524650 is the correct replacement. As such, the shorter struts are very loose on the glass bracket and I don't trust them, nor do I want them banging around when I hit bumps, even if they don't pop off.

As such, the Amazon struts that were originally posted here also aren't a correct fit as they appear to be 10mm on both ends. The Stabilus chart doesn't list any struts with mismatched ends, and I even unscrewed the ends from them in hopes of swapping the original onto the replacement, but the original uses an M6x1.0 thread and the replacement uses an M8x1.25 thread.

I've been searching for a replacement end with the correct thread and ball size but it looks like the 8mm ball isn't very common and there's not much available for it. I'm contemplating drilling and tapping the end, but I need to look closer tomorrow and see how much material would be left.

Which year is your jeep? I’ve been using it on our two Jeeps 21 JL for many years.

just took a photo

 

[dlong1119]

Which year is your jeep? I’ve been using it on our two Jeeps 21 JL for many years.

just took a photo

It's a 2021 but all 2018-up JLs use the same part, I'm not sure where you came up with that one from as even the JK used a combo 8mm/10mm ball stud... The one you're using "fits", but it's almost 1.5" shorter than original and the upper ball is the wrong size. Give a wiggle compared to the bottom and you'll see how much looser it is. For standard use I probably wouldn't worry as long as it wasn't rattling, but if planning to use it to keep the rear window open while driving I wouldn't trust it to support an expensive piece of glass like that as I don't want the sharp impact that having extra play in that joint could allow.

I looked at the inside of the socket again when unscrewed from the strut and it appears to have a threaded insert in there so I don't think drilling and tapping it larger is an option.

The next option is to possibly replace the upper ball with a 10mm as they're readily available online. Unfortunately that's would require delicately drilling out/grinding off the original ball which looks to be riveted into the bracket that is glued to the glass and I'm not sure I want to go down that road.

 

[ym0bc1]

It's a 2021 but all 2018-up JLs use the same part, I'm not sure where you came up with that one from as even the JK used a combo 8mm/10mm ball stud... The one you're using "fits", but it's almost 1.5" shorter than original and the upper ball is the wrong size. Give a wiggle compared to the bottom and you'll see how much looser it is. For standard use I probably wouldn't worry as long as it wasn't rattling, but if planning to use it to keep the rear window open while driving I wouldn't trust it to support an expensive piece of glass like that as I don't want the sharp impact that having extra play in that joint could allow.

I looked at the inside of the socket again when unscrewed from the strut and it appears to have a threaded insert in there so I don't think drilling and tapping it larger is an option.

The next option is to possibly replace the upper ball with a 10mm as they're readily available online. Unfortunately that's would require delicately drilling out/grinding off the original ball which looks to be riveted into the bracket that is glued to the glass and I'm not sure I want to go down that road.

I’m not sure if I’m confused or you are confused. This thread started because OP and I wanted a shorter strut. Plus, why would anyone drive with the rear window open 🫠
Anyway, it’s your jeep.

 

[dlong1119]

I’m not sure if I’m confused or you are confused. This thread started because OP and I wanted a shorter strut. Plus, why would anyone drive with the rear window open 🫠
Anyway, it’s your jeep.

OP wanted to drive with the rear window open, as do I, but we don't want to risk hitting the garage door. I forgot you mentioned wanting a shorter strut and thought you were just linking a stock replacement, but either way, it's not really the correct part. You never said exactly why you wanted the shorter strut, but if it's just for reaching the glass to close it then I guess what you linked is a viable option. For my use case, I don't trust it.

I would also encourage OP to be cautious about using the Amazon struts for his purpose and would recommend he edit the first post so that anyone just coming into the thread is immediately aware that it's not really the right part for our Jeeps.

 

[ym0bc1]

OP wanted to drive with the rear window open, as do I, but we don't want to risk hitting the garage door. I forgot you mentioned wanting a shorter strut and thought you were just linking a stock replacement, but either way, it's not really the correct part. You never said exactly why you wanted the shorter strut, but if it's just for reaching the glass to close it then I guess what you linked is a viable option. For my use case, I don't trust it.

I would also encourage OP to be cautious about using the Amazon struts for his purpose and would recommend he edit the first post so that anyone just coming into the thread is immediately aware that it's not really the right part for our Jeeps.

Well ok. I thought OP is like me having a lower garage door so need shorter strut.

 

[dlong1119]

Update... I contacted Stabilus with my required specs about a possible cross-fitment from a different OEM application since their website only has a chart for a handful of universal fitments and they promptly replied back with part #4B-595344 from a 2000-2006 Tahoe. It has an 18.03" length, the appropriate 8mm/10mm ball sockets and the same 36lbs of force. The only deviation from our original is the shaft is 6mm instead of 8mm and the body is 15mm instead of 18mm, so it's a bit slimmer overall. I've got 2 on order from RockAuto (they're only ~$8 each!) and will report back when they arrive.

 

[HungryHound]

Update... I contacted Stabilus with my required specs about a possible cross-fitment from a different OEM application since their website only has a chart for a handful of universal fitments and they promptly replied back with part #4B-595344 from a 2000-2006 Tahoe. It has an 18.03" length, the appropriate 8mm/10mm ball sockets and the same 36lbs of force. The only deviation from our original is the shaft is 6mm instead of 8mm and the body is 15mm instead of 18mm, so it's a bit slimmer overall. I've got 2 on order from RockAuto (they're only ~$8 each!) and will report back when they arrive.

Thanks for fixing this mistake. My apologies for not noticing the different ball diameter. Thankfully, it hasn’t been an issue yet, but I plan to order the Stabilus Tahoe struts. Hopefully, the Jeep will still perform well off-road with a GM part on it.

 

[HungryHound]

Well ok. I thought OP is like me having a lower garage door so need shorter strut.

Yep. I needed a 19” or shorter strut to clear the garage door with the rear window raised.

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