Replacement rear hatch lift struts do not line up with studs and need to be compress?

Hi
Just buy new and replace1Pair Rear Liftgate Lift Supports Shocks Struts
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-New-Rear-Liftgate-Tailgate-Hatch-Lift-Supports-Struts-For-Saturn-Vue-/182121013015
Thanks

Change the lift struts

There should be two hydraulic struts - one on either side of the hatch/tailgate. If these struts have failed, the hatch/talgate will not stay open. Also, since these struts are compressed when the hatch/tailgate is closed, they provide positive lifting pressure when you unlock the hatch, pushing it away slightly from the latching mechanism. Replace the struts, and you should be all set.

Not difficult at all. They are usually a ball and socket fitting with a locking clip that fits over the socket part. You can lift off the clip with a small screw driver, but be careful as it can spring away, and then just pull the strut off the ball. (Sometimes the struts are fitted onto studs and only needs the nuts to be removed to pull off the struts).

You will need a strut compressor if you have rear struts. You will need to remove the upper bolt inside hatch and one connected to axle. compress springs, and remove strut.
If this is regular shocks, lift car up by bumper, remove top and bottom bolts and replace.

Turns out that after 26 years and 233 thousand miles, the original strut gave up the ghost: Rust! I took the shock strut assembly out of a 'spare parts' Honda Accord I keep and replaced the broken one in the Honda I am now driving. Mechanically the car is still excellent, but the car is destined to dissolve around me! To remove the whole assembly required taking out one 14mm bolt at the bottom and three 12mm bolts at the top, some WD 40, several pieces of wood for leverage and a heavy mallet.. Since there is a heavy duty coil spring involved, one should take out the bottom bolt first and lift the bottom of the strut free from its position, ( this is where I used a long 2x4 and another piece of wood as the fulcrum point to pry the strut upward) Then undo the top 3 bolts and the whole unit falls out. You will also need to detach the brake fluid line that uses the strut itself as an anchor. The easiest way is to take the line off from the back of the brake drum housing ( 9mm nut) and remove the horseshoe clip and push the curved metal brake line through the small hole where the line is anchored to the strut. Use care as you will need to reattach the brake line again after installing the next shock strut. (Coil spring compression tool required) Needless to say, you will need to jack the car up and remove the rear tire first to access the whole thing.

Any Chevy dealer or try a chain automotive store. Bring in old strut to match up

The trunk lift supports (struts) come fully extended. Install one end of the strut and then push up or open the trunk until the other end of the strut lines up with the ball stud and snap it on. If you cannot open the trunk far enough to line up the ball stud then you have gotten the wrong struts. Hope this helps.

replace them with new ones, these go bad quite often

The hatch lift struts are held in place buy a half moon shaped spring clip at each end, use a flat blade pocket screwdriver and pry the clips up to release the ball socket and remove the strut from the ball pivot screwed into the body.