91 GTS Rear Struts; How To Reach Top Nuts?

[91corollagts]

This is for a 91 GTS Coupe - I'm afraid I know the answer to this, but I'll ask anyway. I've got the Koni inserts for the rear strut housings, and went to install the other day. I already know how to do the "cut off the top and drill a hole from the bottom" assembly method, but I'll be darned if I can find an easy way to remove the rear window "deck" easily for access to the top nuts..

It appears I've got to take the whole darn rear window area trim pieces apart as well as some of the seat area plastic parts too. What a royal PITA.

Is there an easy way? I was kind of hoping the rear deck area below the window would simply pull out with a little biting of the lip and holding my breath. It appears no such luck; it's old and brittle and will disintegrate. That and the side edges appear to tucked under the verticle window molding.

Any experienced help out there? I'm already looking forward to having to buy a new front left strut assembly because the dumb provious owner put in a Monroe sealed unit......(Seeking a used 90-91 GTS front driver's side strut housing; 2" diameter with threaded nut on the top).

Thx.......

[Timberland]

On my 89 SR5 I had to take the panels beside the seats off, and unclip the top of the deck (just the carpet). If you can do that, you should be able to feel around and get a ratchet in to get at the top nuts. If you have chubby arms you might have a problem but you should be alright. Oh, and you'll probably have to take the back seat out as well.

[toyotaspeed90]

i pulled my rear speakers out, 3rd brake light (sr5), and pulled the rear dash cover out.... i'ts a pain, i'm not gonna lie

[89yotarollagts]

i took mine off just cause im working on getting rid of the small speakers im thinking im just gunna replace with a Flexible plastic or wood and just put like a window tint over it cause like yea say mine was flimsy as hell and broke apart on me let me know what you do along with some pictures

[Abnmouse1]

Yes you will have to take out the rear deck cover, in doing so you must take out your 3rd brake light. You shoudn't have to take out your side panels. When I installed my air ride, that's all I had to do. Getting to the nuts is a beiznitch. You may need a 2" extention on a ratchet or even better, a swivel attatchment. I've done this many times, but I wouldn't recommend doing too many times, for the excessive bending on an old car like that (and mine) will brake the cardboard cover. I ended up recovering mine with vinyl and am fixin to re-do it in velvet to match the rest of my hoo-ride. Good luck.

[91corollagts]

Originally Posted by Abnmouse1

Yes you will have to take out the rear deck cover, in doing so you must take out your 3rd brake light. You shoudn't have to take out your side panels.

It appears that the 91 GTS has a few differences from the SR-5. The third brake light is outside in the rear spoiler. The rear deck has two speaker covers that pop off, and two smaller plastic devices that serve no purpose that I can see; acoustics perhaps? They look like smaller speaker covers but there is no second set of rear speakers. They appear to be glued on.

The side edge of the deck seems to be tucked *under* the side window moldings and unwilling to easily pull out. The rear may be glued in place as it doesn't want to budge from the rear edge next to the window. Heck, that would make this too easy!!

My current game plan is to take an Exacto knife and cut a straight section on each side allowing it to fold up like a small door, and then back into place when the work is done. Hopefully when put back down the line won't show.....much.

If that doesn't work I'll probably have an uphostery shop make a new one that's removable. The Koni inserts are externally adjustable so I'll need access at the autocross events anyway.

I'm anxious to get these Konis on. My first event on the Azenis street tires (SCCA Solo 2 H Stock) the car did quite well, Paxing a 957 with no exhaust and old mismatched shocks. Even so, it has incedible handling with the left front shock bottoming every little bump in corners.

Later.

[89yotarollagts]

[QUOTE=91corollagts]It appears that the 91 GTS has a few differences from the SR-5. The third brake light is outside in the rear spoiler. The rear deck has two speaker covers that pop off, and two smaller plastic devices that serve no purpose that I can see; acoustics perhaps? They look like smaller speaker covers but there is no second set of rear speakers. They appear to be glued on.


these just cover part of the trunk arms since they aint flush with the cardboard thingy we been talken bout