Nissan Repair: 99 Nissan Maxima .f hatch lift supports, nissan maxima, ball studs

Question
Looking at the front hatch lift supports trying to replace them with some generic units purchased at auto parts store. Cannot see how they are to be removed except for unbolting them. This is easy on the lower end but the retaining nut on the top side is inside of the hood and I do not know how it is accessed. The instructions that came with the replacement parts indicate three different potential ways the lift supports attach none of which appears to be the case with my Maxima. I do not see any clips to pry open or locking mechanisms to open.
Thank you for your help!
Jim

Answer
Jim,

The old ones pop off as they are mounted on ball studs.  Get a small screwdriver and insert it betweent he ball stud and the strut and they should come off.  Once one end is off the other end can be removed by moving the strut outward, away from the stud.