Tailgate support struts

Post by **Andyvandy** » 13 Aug 2006, 16:54

Hi,

Does anyone know how to remove the support struts off the tailgate?

I'm swapping the tailgate over and the struts are fixed to the old one and I can't get them off!

Thanks

Andy

Post by **R0B** » 13 Aug 2006, 19:15

isnt there a small wire pin holding it on...

Post by **guz** » 13 Aug 2006, 19:36

tiny one, then they pull off.

Post by **Plasticman** » 13 Aug 2006, 21:39

Just removed mine from an 81, .. srewed into tailgate 10mm spanner, on rear body a 'c' clip

Mike

Post by **Andyvandy** » 14 Aug 2006, 00:18

There is a small hole in the bottom cup shaped part of the strut - no pin. tried undoing the 10mm nut - would't budge the metal of the nut started to distort!

Andy

Post by **Andyvandy** » 14 Aug 2006, 16:35

I removed the clip which was present and then with a bit of persuasion I was able to remove both struts. Abit of force was required to refit them on the new tailgate. They seem to be ok.

I generally don't like forcing things cause they often break!

Andy

Post by **Bee** » 19 Jan 2007, 17:23

would just like to drag this up again as having the same problem, what was the persausion needed? and anyone else, if there is a pin on the cup end, would you do a little diagram to show maybe?

thanks

dalmationman · Post by **dalmationman** » 19 Jan 2007, 17:52

Well, mine had nuts that undid on one end of the strut, then a small spring on the other end of the strut that pulled out with circlip pliers.
I found that once the nut was undone I needed to lift the door a little higher than the struts normall take it in order to remove the strut from the part where the nut was taken off.

Maybe your nuts have rusted up, soak in wd40 for a few days then try again.

Post by **Bee** » 19 Jan 2007, 19:13

yes i have the nuts, they have a ball that the cup sits onto. thing is, for the replacement struts i need the ball part of the joint so figured the cup should come off somehow?

I just want to get the purple bit off

dalmationman · Post by **dalmationman** » 19 Jan 2007, 19:31

The purple bit comes off the grey part by pulling out the metal band on the purple bit. This releases it from the grey part and the strut comes off.
Unfortunately I don't know how to get the purple cup bit off the purple strut.
maybe this helps anyway.

Post by **Bee** » 19 Jan 2007, 20:01

aha

if yr not on about the circlip on the main body of the van side of the strut (just incase we have wires crossed) then that'll be why i couldn't get it off. it was fading light n didn't see a clip on the cup part

thanks for your time

dalmationman · Post by **dalmationman** » 19 Jan 2007, 20:08

Yes, there is circlip on one part and a clip on the other.
Also, have the rear door propped up with a stick when you take em off one at a time.
Or wear a crash helmet.

Post by **Bee** » 19 Jan 2007, 20:26

will remember the crash helmet bit.
thanks for your time