I recently purchased new lift struts (June 2001)for my 740 wagon. They were made in Germany and supposed to be OEM. The problem is now its been getting cold and the struts are not holding the latch up. Is there any way to tell if they are leaking? Are there more then 1 size of strut (diameter)?
Thanks in advance
Brad

You might try looking out for a pair of struts for a late 960 or even a V90. I got a pair from a scrap yard and they really ping the door up on my early 960. I think the door may be heavier on the later model, but the struts are the same length and fit onto the same ball joints.

Chris

I dealt with this issue not too long ago. The struts need to be replaced in pairs, so if you only replaced one get another new one and replace the other old one as well. Aside from that, I would never buy struts from anyone that doesn't advertise or designate them as THE parts for my 1985 745t.

If you want to compare parts numbers I would suggest you take a look at the lists provided by the two sites below. They are complete, offer cheap prices, and allow you to see all the parts for your SPECIFIC volvo year/make:

http://www.thepartsbin.com
http://www.importeccatalog.com

As for the cold weather, I know that even my new structs have trrouble in extreme cold. I was just in 10 degree (f) weather, and they went up very slowly. However, fully extended they did hold the door up.

Good luck,
Rick

Hi Rick
I think I got some bad struts. I replaced both. I purchased them from http://www.thepartsbin.com. I checked the manufacturer's site and they were the right ones. I live in the highdesert of Calif and it hasn't even been that cold. Not below 30 degree F yet. Early in the morn or late of a night they will not hold the tailgate up. After it warms up they work. Its a hassle but I guess I am going to have to return these and reorder.
Thanks Brad

llil:

The gas charged cylinders are measured with regard to two parameters. (1) The length of the extended cylinder and (2) The psi rating or the amount of force measured in psi ( 10psi, 20psi, 40psi, 90psi etc) needed to compress the cylinder. The part number on the cylinder should, in some fashion, indicate the psi rating so you can compare the new cylinders with the old ones. Regardless of what size cylinders you have they are affected by the cold in an adverse fashion. Meaning the colder it is the less able they are to function as they are designed. Despite the colder weather they should be able to hold up the tailgate. I do not know if you can tell if they are leaking or not.

Hope this helps and good luck.

I have experiance with the trunk struts, not the gate ones, but i believe the idea is the same. If you go to a general parts stoor, they should have about 200 types of the struts. take in one you have and look at the endings and the compressed legnth. If you can find one the same compressed legnth and with the same end fittings, but a larger barrel then your in business. I regetably used the 'oem' size struts on my trunk lid. I wish i would of bought some with more strgnth. If my car is on my ramps, the trunk doent stay open. Any Hooo

I can only hope this info is helpfull...

Thanks Justus
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Proud owner of a '96 960 & '90 740 turbo