Hi,

I have 2 new tailgate struts to replace my old weak ones that barely and not always hold the gate up. I have all the trim off and have removed the old struts, and have one side of the new ones on.

BUT, I cannot get the other end of either strut on - even with the tailgate held as far up as it can go (almost lifting the back of the car by an assistant) the ball joint will just not quite reach - a few more millimeters! I tried doing one side first but then thought maybe the old strut was holding gate down - no luck.

I compared the parts and the new ones are identical to old - it's the rght part. also can't get the old ones back on.

Any tips for getting these suckers on? Is it just a matter of brute force, a special tool or is there a trick to it?

And wow is that tailgate heavy without any support - snapped the broomhandle I was using to support and whacked me good in the head :( I am waiting on this for further advice, while I nurse the gooseegg on my head!

-Tina

Wow, this is funny because I'm presently having a problem getting my struts on too (from fcpgroton). Only mine are not going on because the socket seems too small and the ball won't press in. I've tried all kinds of leverage tools and I'm afraid somethings going to break before they snap in to place!

If I understand, the arm seems too long on yours? Can you compress it at all, perhaps using a C-clip?

Don

one more thing...see the support for the ball towards the front of the car? That support is adjustable--loosen the two 12mm bolts attaching the support to the car and you will see it will slide fore and aft a bit. Note this may or may not effect the closure of the tailgate.

Don
still trying to leverage or press these strut sockets onto the balls. Seems impossible w/o a hammer (if only a hammer could get in to that tight space!).

Tina,
The struts appear to be a mm too long? Did you try using a screwdriver as a lever - be careful not to damage the plastic inside the round part of the shock. Also, I always use a piece of 2X4 lumber rather than a puney broom stick.

Klaus
--
98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

THanks Klaus,

The struts are exactly the same as the ones I took out, now I can't put the old or the new ones in! I have tried a screwdriver but there is really nothing to use as leverage there. I had my boyfriend lift the tailgate up as high as it would go pushing it up as hard as he could and the struts still won't go on. I don't know what else to do!

You tried to loosen the ball mount on the tailgate and that didn't give you enough room.
Try taking the strut out and compressing it first, it may be stuck a little bit. Be very careful not to bend it or break the plastic tips.

Or put a piece of thin wood between it and the liftgate and let the weight of the hatch compres it an inch or two. Don't break the hinge by bending it too far up.

Klaus
--
98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

Ah-ha! I have foudn the problem - the new struts are NOT exactly the same. They are a mm or 2 longer and I just didn't catch it. They don't have the same dimaeter in the black part either so I suspect these are not the correct part.

Last time I buy parts on eBay!!!

Sounds like trunk struts for a sedan, not a wagon. Try IPDUSA which is in Seattle.

Klaus
--
98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)