Troublesome or failing trunk lift support shocks symptoms
- Opening the trunk lid is difficult.
- Lid on the trunk doesn’t remain open.
- There is no opening of the trunk lid.
In This Article...
Are liftgate struts repairable?
These struts may dry up, become blocked with road debris, or simply become completely worn out over time. You can really service them yourself quite easily. You can also replace something yourself if you need to. They are reasonably priced, and the repair happens quickly.
How long are tailgate struts supposed to last?
Many different things affect this. Shocks or struts can be compared to tennis shoes. They will last a lot longer if you only use them on the weekends to go shopping than if you ride a skateboard, wear them every day, and constantly use the brakes on your shoes!
This means that if you drive less frequently, on smoother roads, don’t drive aggressively, and don’t haul a lot of weight in your car, your shocks or struts will last longer.
The maximum lifespan of most shocks and struts for the ordinary driver is 7 or 8 years. On average, if your car has been “babied,” you can expect your shocks/struts to live approximately 10 years. If you have really worked your car like a workhorse, 5 years is probably all you can expect.
How durable are liftgate supports?
Traveling is something that the majority of people do frequently. When traveling, a person might benefit from a number of features that exist on an automobile. When you are trying to remove bags out of the trunk, the trunk lift support shocks assist in holding the trunk up. This will free you from needing to support the trunk and will enable you to remove everything from the trunk quickly and easily. The shocks that support the trunk lift will ultimately wear out, just like any other component on a car.
These lift supports are made to be strong enough to endure as long as the car because of their sturdy design. Due to their frequent use, the lift supports may eventually start to exhibit indications of wear. These shocks are typically gas-filled, which creates the tension required to try to hold up the trunk. In some cases, the gas may eventually start to leak out, making the lift support useless. If you don’t address the problems with your trunk lift supports, you might not be able to keep your trunk raised when you need to.
You will need to keep an eye out for problems because these trunk supports are prone to leaks or punctures. Generally speaking, you won’t be able to fix these lift supports. The most effective approach to address any problems you have with your trunk lift supports is to have them entirely replaced. When it’s time to replace a trunk support, it’s better to do so in pairs to prevent any problems in the future.
When it’s time to swap out your trunk lift support shocks, you can notice the following things:
- The hood won’t remain raised for very long in cold weather.
- The trunk lid is still ajar.
- Opening the trunk is really difficult.
Your chances of experiencing problems are reduced if you swiftly repair the shocks that support the trunk lift on your car. To prevent any additional issues with your car, have a licensed mechanic replace the shocks that support the trunk lift.
My gas struts won’t compress; why?
Please take into account all health and safety concerns and precautions when installing the gas struts since they can be dangerous.
It’s time to install the gas strut you’ve chosen from our selection and that will fit your door.
- The door must be cautiously propped open as the initial step. This is 90 degrees to the closed position for the majority of hinged doors.
- You will observe a length at 90 (P) Measurement on the gas strut chart. This is the separation between the hinge’s pivot point and the top gas strut mounting point.
- At this point, mount the top of your gas strut. It is crucial to attach your struts as previously illustrated, with the larger tube at the top.
- Swing the bottom of the gas strut to the side of the body as indicated below once the top of the strut has been attached. Using it to establish the location of your bottom mounting point. At this point, mount the gas strut’s bottom.
- It should be okay to take off the prop keeping the door open once the gas struts are installed. Your door’s weight ought to be supported by the gas struts at this point.
Quickly open and close the valve at the top of the strut with the included Hex Key. One pulse is equal to one open and shut. We advise releasing the gas in brief, quick pulses. Keep in mind to apply the equal number of pulses to each of your door’s gas struts. Check the struts frequently to see if the proper pressure has been obtained.
When adjusting the struts, we advise adding a little weight to your door to prevent excessive gas release. To make sure you don’t allow too much gas out of the strut, perform 3-5 pulses on each side and verify frequently. Keep in mind that you may always release more gas but not add it back in.
You must let additional gas out of your gas strut if it won’t compress. The strut cannot be compressed by the weight of the door because the pressure is too great.
Your struts have probably been overextended if all of the gas has been removed from it yet the strut still won’t compress. This typically occurs when a gust of wind forces the door open, pushing the strut piston past the safety ring and jamming it in the open position. You will need new struts if this has happened because overextended struts are unsafe to use.
Please follow the steps on this free PDF if you wish to determine how many kilograms are required for a gas strut.
Why do gas struts break down?
By storing energy in the form of gas under pressure, gas struts function. While the strut’s structure is intact, this stored energy source is maintained secure. Nitrogen gas under pressure and some oil are used in struts to dampen movement and grease the seals. Typically, operating pressures fall between 1700 and 15200 kPa (250 to 2 200 psi).
- The majority of failures are caused by a gradual loss of gas pressure, which prevents the strut from supporting the weight. The possibility exists that the component being supported will suddenly or gradually fall.
- Additionally, struts may break if they have interior deterioration (for example by forced over-extension). The structure holding the gas pressure can collapse, and portions might be ejected at a high speed as a result of the sudden loss of restraint force. Anyone nearby is significantly at danger of suffering a serious injury or passing away in this situation due to the severity of the collision.
Workers are frequently quite close to this potential hazard because gas struts are typically placed or removed by hand.
Before removing a gas strut, it may not always be feasible to determine whether it has interior damage. Although it might seem to be functioning normally, the removal operation could set off a malfunction that results in the explosive ejection of parts. Risks posed by broken struts must be carefully managed.
Many factors, such as the following, might cause gas struts to fail:
- incorrect layout of the gas strut design (e.g. poor geometry subjecting the strut to over-extension, over-compression or side loading)
- physical injury (e.g. from corrosion, wear, collision, leakage or misuse).
- improper usage (e.g. incorrect application or overheating)
How do supports for trunk lifts function?
Energy is produced by compressing gas inside a cylinder to create energy in gas-charged lift supports. The energy is stored when closed. When a hatch, hood, liftgate, or trunk is opened, energy is released to raise them and hold them securely open. Incorrectly referred to as shock absorbers or struts, gas-charged lift supports actually absorb energy to control motion. Lift supports cannot often be compressed manually since they typically hold a 1,500 psi gas charge.
All gas-charged lift supports eventually start to fail by design. Typically, they are out of sight and out of mind—at least, until they stop working correctly. Additionally, they might function somewhat one day and completely the next. The most prevalent reasons for failure include continuous usage or cycling of the part, exposure to severe temperatures, and loss of gas pressure owing to natural penetration. If the car is five years old or older, replacement is likewise to be expected. Applications for lift supports that are specifically for the automotive industry and applications that are used generally.
Do struts need to be replaced?
Struts don’t need to be replaced until your car bottoms out in potholes and over railroad tracks, bounces like it’s on a pogo stick, or if a mechanic discovers that they are leaking fluid or have been broken. They may also rot in certain environments.
The struts are “shock absorbers mounted inside coil springs, replacing other types of shock absorbers, and they are commonly used because they make suspension systems more affordable. They control the amount of bouncing created by bumps, dips, and peaks in the road as well as making a hard or sudden stop. “Shock absorber is a misleading term because the springs actually absorb the road shocks. The consequent bouncing brought on by the springs compressing and releasing is minimized by the struts. Instead of “shock absorbers,” they should be named “dampers.”
Their initial thought may be that they need to have new struts installed on their car when they see a decline in ride quality or handling abilities. Manufacturers’ advertisements urging customers to replace their struts after 50,000 miles or so have contributed to the acceptance of that idea. Be mindful that any troubles with your vehicle’s ride, handling, or steering (or odd noises) could be caused by other suspension parts unless your car is leaning or bouncing significantly, as indicated above. It is advantageous to have a competent mechanic inspect under your automobile for this reason.
If your vehicle is no longer providing a smooth ride, or you are experiencing issues with handling or steering, struts may be to blame. It’s possible that the struts are leaking or that the rubber bushings that serve as the joint’s cartilage have worn out, enabling metal-to-metal contact. Rust or aging could have also contributed to the strut assembly’s damage. However, the issue might exist elsewhere. Bushings and other suspension components, including tie rods, control arms, and sway-bar links, can also deteriorate over time, leading to loose steering, road noise, and increased body lean during turns. Some of these issues could also be brought on by improper wheel alignment and uneven tire wear.
The struts will wear down more quickly if you frequently tow big loads or travel on really bad roads, but if you don’t abuse them, they can last the entire life of your automobile. When you notice a problem, don’t just ask your mechanic for new struts right away; instead, describe it to them and let them determine whether the issue is due to worn struts or something else with your vehicle. You might have a different suspension issue, or your car might be experiencing an altogether different issue.