V40: Guide : how to change tailgate gas struts

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by villar4sotrondio

A word of caution with old tailgate struts.

Tailgate struts are gas filled and the gas experiences changes with outside temp. When they are old they might work fine in Summertime but in very cold weather as the gas contracts the struts may not hold that heavy tailgate open which can fall down unexpectedly.

This happened to me in my 1993 E Class Merc (aka Hildegard) as I was working on the rear of the car one very cold winter evening barely seconds after I took my arm off the tailgate opening.

I noticed the other morning, when I took the recycling bins down to the bottom of the drive. It was -2 and the tailgate slowly closed as the wind was blowing. At the weekend +14 it remained positively open although the struts feel very soft and need changing.

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by ITSv40

Genuine struts on Phase1 & 2 are all black.

I've just ordered a pair of Meyle struts off ebay as my originals are getting weak to the point a strong wind will close the tailgate. Once fitted I will report back on the quality. Certainly their drop links are much, much better than Volvo.

Update: Struts arrived today, five mins to fit and work perfectly. The action is super smooth through the full range and just strong enough to hold the tailgate at the horizontal position. Below horizontal, closes under its own weight and above horizontal opens without any assistance. I'm a fussy devil and more than pleased with them and for the obsessives - as I am - the pistons are black as per originals. Cost £40 delivered.

I can now tackle the north Norfolk coast in a couple of weeks time without any fear of being knocked out by the tailgate.

[baldmosher]

For almost twice the price of the TUV ones I bought I'd expect perfection

See how long mine last shall we....

[baldmosher]

Well I can thoroughly discredit those TUV struts I bought. They're rusting already and I think they're a bit too strong as the upward motion bounces hard at the top, although it has risen perfectly at least once. They're going back to the seller.

I am tempted to buy those £40 ones Happy Diver recommended above.

[baldmosher]

I couldn't find the Meyle struts that ITSV40 bought, although they sound great, so I've asked this guy if his £19 struts are black. Otherwise the Magnetti Marelli ones I bought last time are an extra fiver.

And I've not yet ruled out HD's ones from Partsmonster....

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by baldmosher

I couldn't find the Meyle struts that ITSV40 bought, although they sound great, so I've asked this guy if his £19 struts are black. Otherwise the Magnetti Marelli ones I bought last time are an extra fiver.

And I've not yet ruled out HD's ones from Partsmonster....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-V40-...item231420b072
These are the ones I bought.

[baldmosher]

Got an instant refund from the seller of those TUV struts, no quibbles, which was nice.

Originally Posted by baldmosher

I've asked this guy if his £19 struts are black. Otherwise the Magnetti Marelli ones I bought last time are an extra fiver.

The £19 are half-chrome, so I bought the same Magnetti Marelli ones that I got last time (actually from the same seller, the photo is black, so fingers crossed they are! Lost my original pics so can't remember from last time.) £23 delivered so can' t really justify spending almost double that, although ITSv40 and HD did make their sound very tempting

[Spetsnaz GSh]

I bought the Magneto Marelli ones for about £23 not too long ago.

The right hand one has a bit of wobble , basically I can hold it and twist it a bit.

Not sure what the fault is exactly with that but has no effect at all on operations and the boot snaps shut and opens like a brand new car which is great.

That's just my keen eye noticing every little thing wrong with my car.

[baldmosher]

I think they probably all do that? The clamp(?) that holds the lug(?) is built to rotate freely, although maybe I'm missing something in your description.

In any event, I've got a spare pair of struts that work fine, but are slightly prone to rusting, free of charge (plus postage) to anyone who wants them.....

[TylerDurdenK]

Originally Posted by baldmosher

I think they probably all do that? The clamp(?) that holds the lug(?) is built to rotate freely, although maybe I'm missing something in your description.

In any event, I've got a spare pair of struts that work fine, but are slightly prone to rusting, free of charge (plus postage) to anyone who wants them.....

I'll take them if they're still available!?