Rear Hatch Hydraulics
Moderator: volvite
Well, I installed the shocks and like the specs said the body and overall length is 1/4" shorter but has the same stroke. I switched the anodized ends and put the factory ends on with a thick washer to space it out a 1/4" to match stock. It raises with authority, I can let go half way and it will open. But I figure the rubber bump stops on the body must be worn out from all of the previous slamming, because it still hits hard if you just push it down to close it. So I still hang on to it untill that last little bit. I is a little harder than stock to lower but I beleive the added pressure will make it last longer than stock.... I hope.
Now that I have an X in the family, I've been spending a bit of time searching all the Xterra forums for various ideas. I did come across a couple of posts (1 was mentioned here already) regarding replacement struts.
The guys on the Xterra forums have been told their struts are rated at 145 lbs stock, whereas one of the posts here mention speaking to a manufacturer who said the Pathfinder's struts are rated at 185. However, the abbreviated part numbers are the same, although not the whole part number. I'm guessing they will be fairly similar though.
The guys on the Xterra forums are ordering the 175 lb struts and say they work great. The rear hatch on the X really isn't that much smaller than ours, so I'm not really too confident in that 185 lb number that was mentioned, but what the hell do I know.
Here's the link to the McMaster site: http://www.mcmaster.com/#gas-springs/=a9w8jv
The struts in question, for the Xterra, are part #9416K28. They come in quite a range of available forces, and while it is a tad longer than the OEM, it sounds like it lifts the hatch another 3" with no problems. Here is another thread on the topic: http://www.thenewx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6419
If someone could confirm that the specs listed for part #9416K28 will work on the Pathfinder, and also what rated force is necessary, I'll be a guinea pig and order some to try. Or, if someone could figure out which part number we would need for the Pathfinder, preferably by spending the time measuring the OEM strut and matching it to one on the McMaster site. Any takers?
The guys on the Xterra forums have been told their struts are rated at 145 lbs stock, whereas one of the posts here mention speaking to a manufacturer who said the Pathfinder's struts are rated at 185. However, the abbreviated part numbers are the same, although not the whole part number. I'm guessing they will be fairly similar though.
The guys on the Xterra forums are ordering the 175 lb struts and say they work great. The rear hatch on the X really isn't that much smaller than ours, so I'm not really too confident in that 185 lb number that was mentioned, but what the hell do I know.
Here's the link to the McMaster site: http://www.mcmaster.com/#gas-springs/=a9w8jv
The struts in question, for the Xterra, are part #9416K28. They come in quite a range of available forces, and while it is a tad longer than the OEM, it sounds like it lifts the hatch another 3" with no problems. Here is another thread on the topic: http://www.thenewx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6419
If someone could confirm that the specs listed for part #9416K28 will work on the Pathfinder, and also what rated force is necessary, I'll be a guinea pig and order some to try. Or, if someone could figure out which part number we would need for the Pathfinder, preferably by spending the time measuring the OEM strut and matching it to one on the McMaster site. Any takers?
NVSteve, the 9416K28 will work the extended length will be .38" longer than stock and the compressed length will be 1.3" shorter. The fact that it is 1.3" shorter will render the factory rubber stops useless, and the hatch will slam shut. But they will fit and they are a fairly inexpensive option (at a little over $16 ea.). The struts I ordered have a 206 lb. rating and they are perfect, partly due to the added weight of the jumper cables I keep in the other pocket adjacent to the first-aid kit. The 175 might work but the X's gate is lighter conidering it has a fixed glass, so I'd go with 200 lb. My gate is not hard to close at all with the 206's. I'm pleased with the performance of the Saturn VUE fitment, and the stock length arms will not bother me because of my 2" supension lift. With the 9416K28's added .38" I'm sure will lift a little higher to prevent any head bumping..... I'd say put them on 
Oh... BTW I took a vid with my phone of my hatch opening by itself, I'll try and download it to share.
Oh... BTW I took a vid with my phone of my hatch opening by itself, I'll try and download it to share.
I installed mine last week. McMaster-Carr part number 9416K149, 225 lb force. Very easy to install. Huge improvement over stock & is not difficult to close at all. These are a hair taller than stock, but that just means I no longer have to stoop under the hatch when it is opened. All I can say is that the hatch now opens with authority, whereas it wouldn't open by itself before. I'm still messing around with the video of this thing, so no promises that I'll be able to post anything useful. Here's a pic of the stock vs new struts:
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