Gas strut (tailgate) sick of this 'easy' job

Big lumps of metals and spanners. Including servicing and fluids.

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Post Reply
Grose
Registered user
Posts: 14
Joined: 05 Jan 2015, 15:04
80-90 Mem No: 14169
Location: London

Gas strut (tailgate) sick of this 'easy' job

Post by Grose »

So sick of this 'easy ' job of replacing gas struts on my tailgate.
"Fits all T25" gas struts that I ordered have been testing my patience.
I guess we are discovering that Betsy is 'non-spec' for small details and large. 35 years of pesky meddling owners I guess ;-)

To start with I had no ball pins on my tailgate. Both ends of the struts are attached with nuts and bolts.
Now i have a ball pin and it screws in fine (phew) and the other end has eventually fitted over the bolt and clipped in with original e clip (phew). But what's this...its too b***** long (argh, final straw).
No matter how high I lift the door its not enough to give this strut the space it needs. And unlike the unusable ones I replaced it, is too strong to compress down by hand.
What can I do to lay this job to rest?

Image

Image

Bolts!
Image

User avatar
kevtherev
Registered user
Posts: 18830
Joined: 23 Oct 2005, 20:13
80-90 Mem No: 2264
Location: Country estate Wolverhampton Actually

Re: Gas strut (tailgate) sick of this 'easy' job

Post by kevtherev »

Where did you get the struts from.. Just Kampers ?
AGG 2.0L 8V. (Golf GTi MkIII)

billybigspud
Registered user
Posts: 635
Joined: 11 Mar 2011, 15:59
80-90 Mem No: 9454
Location: southampton

Re: Gas strut (tailgate) sick of this 'easy' job

Post by billybigspud »

Ratchet strap?

User avatar
Jim San
Registered user
Posts: 2203
Joined: 21 Jan 2014, 20:01
80-90 Mem No: 13133
Location: Wales / Shropshire border
Contact:

Re: Gas strut (tailgate) sick of this 'easy' job

Post by Jim San »

I couldn't compress mine either - I got one in completely the the other side I attached strut to tailgate and then allowed gate to lift and gently pushed up the tailgate until the top of the strut located - there was enough lift and twist in the tailgate to allow for the length.

good look

When its sorted :) beware, the new ones are SO strong they will have you under the chin as it flys up !! and it's like a mini work out closing the thing - one handed closure is a challenge.
1991 (LHD) Syncro kombi 1.9MTDi 1Z (Landy fuel pump) 215/70/16
Life's to short to drink s@@t beer.
'Roads? We don't need roads where we're going'

bryvw1973
Registered user
Posts: 5
Joined: 19 Nov 2014, 18:48
80-90 Mem No: 14092
Location: scunthorpe

Re: Gas strut (tailgate) sick of this 'easy' job

Post by bryvw1973 »

Got my struts from euro car parts fitted straight on no messing and cheap :D
81 1.6ct converted van

danmetallic
Trader
Posts: 1186
Joined: 13 Jan 2013, 10:28
80-90 Mem No: 11955
Location: Shoreham-by-Sea, UK

Re: Gas strut (tailgate) sick of this 'easy' job

Post by danmetallic »

Out of interest what are the strongest struts you can get and where from?
1988 VW T25 Westfalia Club Joker, 2.1 iDJ

User avatar
Jim San
Registered user
Posts: 2203
Joined: 21 Jan 2014, 20:01
80-90 Mem No: 13133
Location: Wales / Shropshire border
Contact:

Re: Gas strut (tailgate) sick of this 'easy' job

Post by Jim San »

danmetallic wrote:Out of interest what are the strongest struts you can get and where from?

You can buy gas struts at max strength and then set to your needs - I bought some small ones and then using a grub screw allowed gas to escape until I had the required pressure. Its a one way thing though, let too much out and that's that!

I had a mate in Northampton who could supply them but he seems to have dropped off the forums!
1991 (LHD) Syncro kombi 1.9MTDi 1Z (Landy fuel pump) 215/70/16
Life's to short to drink s@@t beer.
'Roads? We don't need roads where we're going'

danmetallic
Trader
Posts: 1186
Joined: 13 Jan 2013, 10:28
80-90 Mem No: 11955
Location: Shoreham-by-Sea, UK

Re: Gas strut (tailgate) sick of this 'easy' job

Post by danmetallic »

Jim San wrote:
danmetallic wrote:Out of interest what are the strongest struts you can get and where from?

You can buy gas struts at max strength and then set to your needs - I bought some small ones and then using a grub screw allowed gas to escape until I had the required pressure. Its a one way thing though, let too much out and that's that!

I had a mate in Northampton who could supply them but he seems to have dropped off the forums!

Good tip!
1988 VW T25 Westfalia Club Joker, 2.1 iDJ

Grose
Registered user
Posts: 14
Joined: 05 Jan 2015, 15:04
80-90 Mem No: 14169
Location: London

Re: Gas strut (tailgate) sick of this 'easy' job

Post by Grose »

kevtherev wrote:Where did you get the struts from.. Just Kampers ?

Yep, Just Kampers.

User avatar
kevtherev
Registered user
Posts: 18830
Joined: 23 Oct 2005, 20:13
80-90 Mem No: 2264
Location: Country estate Wolverhampton Actually

Re: Gas strut (tailgate) sick of this 'easy' job

Post by kevtherev »

Grose wrote:
kevtherev wrote:Where did you get the struts from.. Just Kampers ?

Yep, Just Kampers.
Figures...
a one size fits all type of shop.
I shop with a specific T25 supplier of quality products.
Jus' sayin' :D
AGG 2.0L 8V. (Golf GTi MkIII)

Post Reply