I need to replace the rear window struts on my daughters '96 Jimmy this weekend and have a question on who to remove the top end of the struts. They basically have what looks like a long rivet going through the bracket that secures the top end of the strut. There is a hardened steel piece securing the end of each rivet. My questions is, can those pieces, which look sort of like a self threading nut) be unscrewed and reused or are they just pushed on to the "rivet" when the strut is assembled so I would need to cut them off and install new ones. Basically I need to know if I need to purchase new pieces (whatever they are called) prior to doing the replacement.

I was able to access the online service manual for a 200 Blazer, which has the same set up, and the pieces in question are called hinge pins and retainers. The instructions say to discard both the retainers and the hinge pins and replace with new. Is that what people have been doing or do they just reuse the existing ones?

 

I've never done my Blazer but have done a Jeep GC 5.9 Limited. The retainers were on the new struts. I just unsnapped to old & installed the new. I guess if needed I could of reused the retainer clips. I think only one broke. For my Jeep I bought all four shock struts from rockauto.com for cheap. I got Monroe struts. They were like $12/ea.

 

The top end of the struts engage a ball that's on the end of a small post. The ball allows for support of the window by the strut at all angles of engagement. The end of the strut is attached to the ball by a small metal clip. You'll need to pry the clip away from the ball with a small flat screwdriver to disengage the strut assembly from the ball. If you buy a new set of struts and take a look at how they attach, it should b e clear how they go together.

 

Thanks for the replies, actually my question was more along the lines of could I reuse the clips or did I need to buy new ones before doing the job. As it turns out, I was able to reuse the clips and the hinge pins. I did have to straiten the clips out with a pair of pliers and I flipped them over when I put them on (so the side that was convex after prying them off was sticking out). BTW I used channel lock pliers and a small socket to press the keepers on to the pins.