09 Yukon Rear hatch won't fully open

[Joseph Garcia]

Thank you for posting the confirmation on the resolution of your issue. Our collective knowledge base has been increased.

 

[petethepug]

I don’t know if GM used them but there are older versions of the struts that do not have the clips on the end that release the tension holding the strut end on the ball fitting.

I ran into this on another vehicle where the OEM ends had no clips and held on by a fraction of clearance and forced on to the ball fitting. There was no clearance to get a spanner to unscrew the ball fitting. Using any kind of force would break the nearby glass or scratch paint.

I had to take a grinder to the side of the strut end and remove material until it allowed it to have tolerance to let go of the ball joint. Of course the replacement OEM (stabilis) strut had the clip on the end.

 

[Just Fishing]

Get the oem struts.
My tahoe came with a set of aftermarket, they didn't fit right and didn't allow the tail gate to open all the way.

Oem struts have a left and right if i remember correctly.

The tail gate should hold it self up without the help of the lift motor.