Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC 3893

[Dan B]

I put on a pair from TRF. I don't know where they get them, but they have held up for a year and a half so far. I access the boot numerous times a day, and there is a luggage rack on mine.

Dan B.
So. Charleston, WV
80 TR7 DHC
66 TR4AIRS EFI

[FI Spyder]

Got mine from VB two years ago and still working fine. No problems installing. The problem with the slide stay is if you're not paying attention when you close the trunk lid it is possible the stay won't release with the result that the force warps the trunk lid neccessitating replacement of trunk lid. I have seen a number of TR7's with left hand side sitting proud due to this happening. Gas struts are made by a number of companies and I'm sure the quality varies.


TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[Beans]

Totaly agree on this one, early-style prop for me.

1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1981 TR7 DHC (now completely dismantled)
Also a 1980 TR7 DHC, 1980 TR7 DHC FI, 1981 TR7 FHC

[rosey]

I agree, simplicity = reliability

"Do or Do not, there is no try" - Yoda

1980 TR7 Persian Aqua Drophead.
1979 TR7V8 FHC in Pageant blue
Jaguar X Type in pillar box red!

[Hasbeen]

My struts had a sticker on each of them, saying they had been
regassed by XYZ, in 2001, when I had them regassed again in 2007.

They had been good until a couple of weeks before then, so about 6
years for a gassing.

In Oz, we have mobile regassing people, charging about $20/$35 per
strut, depending on size. They mostly work for car dealers, but will
do jobs for service stations, or come to your home.

Hasbeen

[gaz]

ok as you will have seen on another thread I have fitted a boot rack and are wondering if i get a new pair of gas struts are they enough to hold it up or..........
I do have a earlier metal click stay which I know will be fine but i would prefer to use gas struts as its a late car but don't want too buy a pair and find there not strong enough

It rides again..... and again wehey!!!!!!!

[windy one]

Oh yeah, those struts are prety strong. Every wedge Ive owned had a boot rack, and (as long as the struts werent worn out) went up/stayed up very well.

Johnny

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

You can have them recharged.

[Beans]

My personal experience is that they wear out pretty quickly,
never lasting longer than a year or two.
After my third set I got fed up and changed to the earlier boot lid stay.

[FI Spyder]

I'm on year three for my struts and still like new. Don't know if it helps but I like to give the chrome shafts a wipe with silicone spray on a cloth every now and again.



TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[silverseven]

I gave up on the trunk struts, and mcguyvered a shortened old Ford prop rod (cuz that's what I had lying around at the time) It's held in place by one of the trunk latch bolts, and hooks just uner the decklid fold.

If I ever found a trunk lid support for cheap, I'd probably go that route, but for now it doesn't bother me....

Ron.

[Hasbeen]

Our little struts have to operate at about 3 times the pressure that
works on most moderns, which have much longer struts. If yours have
been pressured to a "normal" pressure they will be marginal, won't
work, or will fail quickly.

Wholesalers hold the things flat, & punp then up to order, so should
be able to fix yours, if they want to.

The gear to set them up is simple & cheap, so if no one does it in
your area, set your self up to do it, & make a fortune.

My spares car had a prop, the lower end fastened to the rain gutter.
It caused the gutter to rust due to flexing cracking the paint. Now
the bottom end of the prop is free, with a bit of rain gutter still
attached. Make sure yours doesn't flex the rain gutter.

Hasbeen

[saabfast]

I have put a mechanical strut from an older car in my '81 model. The struts are still there but clapped out and replacement is not cheap. It is not easy to find somewhere to recharge them in the UK. I did find out about one place (posted here a couple of years ago, try a search) but IIRC it was not too cheap. With a rack on, particularly with any load on it, the little hydraulic strut performance is likely to be poor as Hasbeen says.
I bought the earlier strut (which is easy to use with automatic lift unlatching) from ebay for about £5 all in including top and bottom brackets. Did not take much to weld the lower bracket on and touch up the paint, but then I don't generally use the car in the rain. Tappings were already there on the boot lid for the upper bracket.

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
Saab 9000 2.3 FPT Auto
'81 TR7 DHC

[Ianftr8]

Gaz,

Why dont you just double the gas struts up and have two on each side, I did this years ago and it seems help no end should even work with the boot rack as well.

Cheers
Ian

Ian Freeman
1979 TR8 DHC California car that never crossed the pond, started life as KDU 315V.
1962 Triumph Courier

[MCNX BFF]

I purchased new struts from Rimmers just over a year ago. They work wonderfully and are plenty strong to hold the boot lid up. If/when they fizzle out--hopefully a loooong while from now-I would prefer to recharge or replace them rather than to have the earlier click-stay installed. The struts are pretty inconspicuous; I like that.

----MH-----