V60 - power tailgate sinks a few inches after opening

[redfazer]

Not sure if anything can be done if the spring's broken though?

[redfazer]

Hmm. No pics. Try again!

[Number 6]

Hi Redfazer
I would preferred to do a PM on this subject as it is a pressurised system. Unfortunately I don’t qualify under the forum rules currently.
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These are my actions and I am not instructing anybody to follow them.
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That’s a similar mechanically to the strut as the one fitted to my vehicle, just that I have no ink stamp on the casings, but raised moulded plastic writing with a few less identities.
If you have a look at the lower end of the strut and see if there is play in the end of the strut see JG81 post 38 photo which may identify which strut is the weakest.
Back in October my R/H strut failed and I had a look.
My process was :-
- Insert Broom handle into boot first, on the other strut to boot tie down point-
1, remove the bottom strut from the car body, Care here, as the alloy forging is weak and may break behind the retaining spring, and refitting.
2, carefully slide back the top plastic weather seal (in your photo 5624) its shrink wrapped so just spin it off and try not to stretch it.
3. Top of the strut you will see two clips holding the outer casing in place disconnect and slide the casing down the inner casing and off the end you have disconnected.
4 the lower casing may or may not come off dependent upon the spring force acting on it, but it is withdrawn in the same way. See JG81 post 38 photo which shows the seals, if it doesn’t move, don’t force it.
- Once you have got the casing off, there not much you can do with the spring, apart from using Swan neck pliers to reposition the broken spring where it gets forced over itself in operation.
Clearly all you are doing at this stage is resetting the strut to fail again, but on my 2nd /3rd visit I used Cable Ties 100mm x 2.5 https://www.toolstation.com/cable-ties-black/p28946 three per spring break, and it has improved the spring action. You need to buy the real small ones as the clearance in the casing is tight.

Happy hunting for a new strut!