Just finished my install. Probably in record time while trying to take care of a 6 month old. Hands down, the struts are the most annoying/painful (literally) part of the process. Once you understand how the retainer clip on the strut heads work, it becomes easier by using the pick tool to “release” the clip so that you can more easily attach the strut to the ball mounts. (It sounds so simple when it’s typed out, but this easily caused the most frustration).
You all we’re not kidding about how much more a pain in the ass installing the driver’s side strut is. Passenger side I knocked out relatively quickly. Driver’s side took MUCH longer just trying to re-attach the new motorized strut.
My suggestion to anyone attempting this: find pick tools that are at least 6” inches long. The Husky pack I got from Home Depot were just short enough that the handle hit the body of the car creating a real nuisance for me trying to get leverage/into the driver’s side strut area to pry open the release clip on the strut head. Trust me, and try to find a longer set than I did.
Also, definitely pick up some extra zip ties as recommended by someone else. Ideally you can get a pack with multiple sizes and thicknesses. A couple of the included zips ties straight up snapped just picking them up.
Other than that everything went smoothly. Followed the FTG video.
Only issue I’m having is the frunk lid (when closing) comes all the way down and sits on top of the latch but doesn’t actually seat itself down into the final position, I have to manually push it down the rest of the way. Anyone else have this problem or the solution to it?