Boot Struts

Kleynie

A2OC Donor
Hi all,
I've noticed recently that my boot is getting a bit heavy and the struts don't seem to hold it all the way up any more. So, rather than getting another used pair, I am thinking I will invest in some new ones that may last longer. Does anyone have any recommendations? I've seen some that are a couple of millimetres too long and cause the tailgate to hit on the roof, and obviously, I do not want this from a new strut.
Thanks,

Adam
 
I replaced my struts with SGS ones, and they only lasted about three years. Well, one did. The plastic end at the bottom snapped off, so I just bought one OEM from TPS.
 
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I think that I'm going for those "Stabilus" units, right now! Just a word of warning .... DON'T consider any second-hand units! They MAY be little better than your own!

David
 
O.K. This club is about giving other members feed-back and information .... is that right? Well, here goes!
I ordered those "Stabilus" units on Monday. They arrived today, so 3 days ... not bad! The cost? £34.42 of which £10 was postage. I've fitted them and I'm not TOO impressed? Why's that, you might ask? Well it still needs a reasonable amount of force to lift the hatch!. On my partner's A2 it is MUCH easier to lift the hatch ..... and I do mean MUCH! Also, Tom (Timmus) invited me to open the hatch on his A2, which had just had Audi replacement struts fitted. Boy, was it easy! So these aren't a great deal better, in my view. I haven't got this wrong, believe me! I wonder if there is something else that could make the hatch more difficult to raise? There is one "experiment" that I could perform .... I could try fitting the struts from my Partner's A2 to mine and see if they open my hatch just as easily as the do on her car. After all, removal and fittment is a very easy task! At the moment, I feel like returning these "Stabilus" units .... a pity about the postage, though!

David
 
I have to take issue with the assertion that "Do not buy second hand ones..." I have sold many sets of second hand units, and I have never had a complaint about them. They may be "half" gone, but often that is a lot better than "fully gone" ones, and sometimes can last for years. I certainly wouldn't be charging anywhere near £34.42 for a second hand set, or even half that unless they were in really astounding condition.
 
I have to take issue with the assertion that "Do not buy second hand ones..."

In my post, #8, I did qualify my statement by adding that they MAY be little better than those being replaced. I wonder if you've read what Steve (A2Steve) has said regarding his test for the effectiveness of any struts that he sells? "Chin smacking", or something to that effect? The struts on my Partner's A2 are original and yet are still very effective. That is what I find to be hard to understand? Finally, the comment that I made was in no way personal, so I can't see why you should have been offended? Any comment that I may make is with the aim of being beneficial to other A2OC members. It is also usually based on my own experiences.

David
 
May be variation is down to previous use by former owners. I would expect that some owners rarely used the boot while with others the boot is up and down all the time.

Andy
 
In my post, #8, I did qualify my statement by adding that they MAY be little better than those being replaced. I wonder if you've read what Steve (A2Steve) has said regarding his test for the effectiveness of any struts that he sells? "Chin smacking", or something to that effect? The struts on my Partner's A2 are original and yet are still very effective. That is what I find to be hard to understand? Finally, the comment that I made was in no way personal, so I can't see why you should have been offended? Any comment that I may make is with the aim of being beneficial to other A2OC members. It is also usually based on my own experiences.

David

I wasn't offended Dave, but it was a pretty sweeping statement ;)

May be variation is down to previous use by former owners. I would expect that some owners rarely used the boot while with others the boot is up and down all the time.

Andy

I think you've hit the nail on the head there Andrew, I tend to leave the struts on cars until the very last minute so prospective purchases can try before they buy :)
 
Very much the latter in my case, but a very good point.

May be variation is down to previous use by former owners. I would expect that some owners rarely used the boot while with others the boot is up and down all the time.

Andy
 
@DJ 190 this is a genuine comment, I know you've made a lot of modificationsto your Bootlid I.e the backlit audi badge and mdf backlit numberplate box. Perhaps that extra weight is what's making the difference.
 
@DJ 190 this is a genuine comment, I know you've made a lot of modificationsto your Bootlid I.e the backlit audi badge and mdf backlit numberplate box. Perhaps that extra weight is what's making the difference.
Yes, that's fair comment! Although I did cut material away to fit the back-light box? Oh, it's aluminium, incidentally .... no MDF involved! LOL! I don't think that I've added too much additional weight? These new struts ..... it's the initial opening of the hatch that shows some resistance. The hatch is held quite solid when fully open. I would like it to be easier to open. Tomorrow I'll open my Partner's hatch a few times and even might try her struts on my A2. I am simply disappointed with the new struts. I wonder if the hinges need to be lubricated or adjusted?

David
 
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My measure of a good set of struts is if they will hold the bootlid in the "halfway" position okay. If not, they're pretty much scrap.
 
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