Struts?

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Glideman

Active Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2003
Messages
139
Car
1993 E220 Estate
Has anyone fitted new gas struts for the rear tailgate on a TE? I'm looking for some fitting advice, they seem to be inside the bodywork & I don't want to start investigating if someone knows the best way to do em'.

Thanks
 
they are hidden behind the rear section of the roof panel.

Well, that's s description of where they are but doesn't even begin to describe the hassle of changing them. Be prepared for lots of swearing, wondering why you only have two hands when three would be better if you could actually see what you were doing and have a box of band aid ready for the inevitable cuts and scrapes.

the job goes a bit like this....

1, support the rear of the car with an axle stand on each side - no need to jack it up but make sure the suspension can't go down any lower - very important this bit as once you have the tailgate supported with wood when you lean on the back of the car you will at best bend the hinges or at worst bend the door and pop the window out.

2, open the rear door and support it with timber so that it can't fall on your head when you remove the struts

3, remove the rear section of the roof lining

4, remove the clip from the end of the retaining bolt on the rearward end of the strut then spend 30 minutes wondering where it fired off to before realising it's behind the roof liner and just out of reach - improvise with a home made tool to recover the clip. Then remove the retaining bolt. This is a "3 hand moment" - one to hold the strut, one to push the bolt out and one to catch the bolt - it's up to you which of those options you choose not to do :) but be careful - despite the fact the struts are worn out the will still have some pressure in them and can suddenly fire out (Band Aid time as you will no doubt skin your knuckles on the roof edging)

5, Wash blood and bits of skin off roof lining

6, holding a small torch in your mouth to cast a little light in the darkness locate the front retaining bolt for the strut. Just to add to the complications it's held in place by a metal locking flange - a pair of long nosed pliers and another couple of band aid will release the flange and then you can undo and pull out the nut and bolt then remove the strut.

Re-assembly is the reverse of the above but slightly more awkward as your new strut will be at full pressure and squeezing the bolt into the small aperture for the front bracket is awkward to say the least and will probably require at least two more band aids.

This is one of those jobs that is best performed by contortionists who are no taller than the roof height of the car but with very long thin arms and fingers that can grip tighter than a mole wrench. if you know anyone that fit's this description - get them to help you :)

HTH

Andy
 
Last edited:
Andy your a star. Thanks for all your help, wondered where the strut came out from, had a look but no sign of it :confused:

Thanks :rock:
 
dont you just love the technical descriptions from Andy always informative and amusing
:D :D
 

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