Replaced My Trunk Springs With Gas Struts
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Rep Power: 0 it's all thanks to GREY!! I'll tell you what he told me:
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[hr]Okay, trunk shocks it is. The flip flop trunk thing can be done with or without the trunk shocks. It doesn't matter. Let's concentrate on the trunk shocks because this is what I know.
Allright. You'll need the proper equipment. As I have them set up now they're perfect. They open the trunk all the way. The mounts are also very nice. Allright, you'll need the following parts from www.mcmaster.com:
9512K73 - You'll need two of these. They're little ball studs.
9512K91 - You'll need two of these as well. They're mounting brackets with ball studs.
9416K74 - You'll need four of these. They're little ball sockets. One for each end of shock.
9416K16 - You'll need two of these. The gas shocks. Select 40 for the force. This is in pounds.
Note: The force is a guess. Mine are only 15 pound ones, but I do have those trunk springs as well. If you're thinking of making new trunk springs as well, then I'de choose 20lbs. If not, then 40lbs. Although if you have a spoiler, or are thinking about a spoiler, then maybe 50 pounds would be better.
2521A622 - Tap for making threads in the hole you will drill.
25605A67 - Tap wrench for making the threaded hole with the tap.
Note: You might want to pick these items up at Home Depot or Lowe's and pay a little less, although I did pick out the least costly units there. I think your local home improvement store might have better deals though. I would look there first.
Then all you need is the screws for mounting the mounting brackets. Best buy these in a local Home Improvement store as well to save some cash. I would buy small bolts and washers and nuts. They will have to fit the holes of the mounting brackets.[hr]
[hr]Okay, trunk shocks it is. The flip flop trunk thing can be done with or without the trunk shocks. It doesn't matter. Let's concentrate on the trunk shocks because this is what I know.
Allright. You'll need the proper equipment. As I have them set up now they're perfect. They open the trunk all the way. The mounts are also very nice. Allright, you'll need the following parts from www.mcmaster.com:
9512K73 - You'll need two of these. They're little ball studs.
9512K91 - You'll need two of these as well. They're mounting brackets with ball studs.
9416K74 - You'll need four of these. They're little ball sockets. One for each end of shock.
9416K16 - You'll need two of these. The gas shocks. Select 40 for the force. This is in pounds.
Note: The force is a guess. Mine are only 15 pound ones, but I do have those trunk springs as well. If you're thinking of making new trunk springs as well, then I'de choose 20lbs. If not, then 40lbs. Although if you have a spoiler, or are thinking about a spoiler, then maybe 50 pounds would be better.
2521A622 - Tap for making threads in the hole you will drill.
25605A67 - Tap wrench for making the threaded hole with the tap.
Note: You might want to pick these items up at Home Depot or Lowe's and pay a little less, although I did pick out the least costly units there. I think your local home improvement store might have better deals though. I would look there first.
Then all you need is the screws for mounting the mounting brackets. Best buy these in a local Home Improvement store as well to save some cash. I would buy small bolts and washers and nuts. They will have to fit the holes of the mounting brackets.[hr]
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Rep Power: 0 I've already done the Hood Gas Spring DIY.....Peace!..BTW, I've been selling the design to members for almost a year now.....The hood is much different and harder than the trunk....Peace!
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Rep Power: 0 i just did it so i could put in some decent 6x9 speakers in (not installed yet) and not have to worry about clearance...and just to see if i could..lol...another plus of this is that the 40lbs struts work perfectly...just like stock...it doesnt go up all the way when i open them like most hatchbacks do...acts just like it used to...the lid will stay where i put it and then go all the way up when i hit the sweetspot about 4 inches from being all the way up...kinda cool...
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Rep Power: 0 Most of the time, the strut needs to be faced down so the oil will lube the internal seals....so the skinny end down..peace!
Ok I'll hook you up with a picture:
Attachments:
[IMG]/forums/themes/orbitz/paperclip.gif[/IMG] Hood Springs 1.jpg (34 Kb)
Ok I'll hook you up with a picture:
Attachments:
[IMG]/forums/themes/orbitz/paperclip.gif[/IMG] Hood Springs 1.jpg (34 Kb)
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[hr]Originally posted by: ALLMAN
Most of the time, the strut needs to be faced down so the oil will lube the internal seals....so the skinny end down..peace!
Ok I'll hook you up with a picture:
[hr]
[hr]Originally posted by: ALLMAN
Most of the time, the strut needs to be faced down so the oil will lube the internal seals....so the skinny end down..peace!
Ok I'll hook you up with a picture:
BTW, is that a Turbo II in the background? Looks like the wheels of an '87 Turbo II
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Rep Power: 0 do the shocks ever get weak and lose their ability to hold up the trunk? im not talkin about if i add a spoiler or anything to make it heavier. but if i open and close it alot does the gas shocks wear down? im 50/50 considering the change to gas shocks because my 6x9 4-ways in the back of my coupe has a huge magnet that touches the trunk rods, so my speakers wont fit in all the way.
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Rep Power: 0 gas spring quality is a function of the manufacturer as with anything we buy.....so some may wear out in a year...and some in 5 years...mine have a 5 year warranty.........temperature also effects cheap springs.......but if they wear out...jut buy more...they don't cost but about 25 dollars or so..Peace!
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Rep Power: 0 AHHHH...see now there is the difference on the hood...if your not careful, and don't get the correct spring loading...you can damage your hood "ALOT" easier....if not bend it...so be careful!!!..Peace!
can i put the shocks on the other side??????????????????????????? Thread Starter
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Rep Power: 0 if you are saying flipped on the other side of the brackets so they are on the outside not the inside then maybe...it would be kind of hard drilling the holes this way tho...
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Rep Power: 0 i suppose 50 would work..i know that 40 would be too weak...i believe the trunk of the sedan weighs more than the coupe...do to the lights being there...plus the spoiler adds alot of weight...
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From: BAY AREA, California, US
Rep Power: 0 im all about this DIY Gas Strut Trunk....
HOWEVER, im now a bit interested in the DIY Gas Strut Hood... first question, is there an actual DIY? if so, can someone put up a link... (thanks!!) second, im worried that if you put gas struts on the hood, that they will need to be stiff enough to hold the hood up, yet soft enough to allow the person to bring the hood down without bending? now at what level of LBS. would the strut need to be to allow this. this worries me, because not only is the hood more likely to bend or dent, but if someone has a CF hood, they prolly wouldnt even be able to close their hood without cracking the thing. hmm, maybe this will open some discussion...
HOWEVER, im now a bit interested in the DIY Gas Strut Hood... first question, is there an actual DIY? if so, can someone put up a link... (thanks!!) second, im worried that if you put gas struts on the hood, that they will need to be stiff enough to hold the hood up, yet soft enough to allow the person to bring the hood down without bending? now at what level of LBS. would the strut need to be to allow this. this worries me, because not only is the hood more likely to bend or dent, but if someone has a CF hood, they prolly wouldnt even be able to close their hood without cracking the thing. hmm, maybe this will open some discussion...
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Rep Power: 0 OK I need help and clarification here, I'm lost and confused [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG] Now do you mean select 20lbs each or 40lbs each, the reason why I ask is because I got the (2) 50lbs but I noticed they seemed a bit too much in pressure for a trunk.
Then I noticed so I am assuming what I really needed to get was (2) 15lbs or 20lbs.
I will be returning the one I got from McMaster-Carr and get the (2) 20lbs. to be in the safe side and not putting too much pressure on the trunk lid when it's in the closed position.
Thanks for the great tip
Any other suggestion in what to do or to look out for would be nice.
RC
Quote
[hr]Originally posted by: ohmysac
9416K16 - You'll need two of these. The gas shocks. Select 40 for the force. This is in pounds.[hr]
[hr]Originally posted by: ohmysac
9416K16 - You'll need two of these. The gas shocks. Select 40 for the force. This is in pounds.[hr]
Then I noticed
Quote
[hr]Originally posted by: ohmysac
Mine are only 15 pound ones, but I do have those trunk springs as well. If you're thinking of making new trunk springs as well, then I'de choose 20lbs. If not, then 40lbs. Although if you have a spoiler, or are thinking about a spoiler, then maybe 50 pounds would be better.[hr]
[hr]Originally posted by: ohmysac
Mine are only 15 pound ones, but I do have those trunk springs as well. If you're thinking of making new trunk springs as well, then I'de choose 20lbs. If not, then 40lbs. Although if you have a spoiler, or are thinking about a spoiler, then maybe 50 pounds would be better.[hr]
I will be returning the one I got from McMaster-Carr and get the (2) 20lbs. to be in the safe side and not putting too much pressure on the trunk lid when it's in the closed position.
Thanks for the great tip
Any other suggestion in what to do or to look out for would be nice.
RC
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Rep Power: 419 Nono, 40lbs. The second quote is me. I replaced my trunk springs as well, so they give me a little more force too. 40lbs should be good (each) for a trunk without a spoiler. If you have a spoiler (or are planning to put one on soon), then 50lbs will not be too much.
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40lbs. each, so that makes it 80lbs total pressure for a trunk lid. I played around with one of the 50lbs. that I just got and I even had a hard time pressing down on the gas spring, plus that would mean 50lbs each would be 100lbs. total pressure to close a trunk lid.... I can just imagine over time that something may break due to the pressure it may give when the trunk is close.
I may not return the 50lbs each afterall and try it anyway... if it seems too hard to close the lid I will use the 20lbs each. Either way I will let you all know.
Thanks.
RC
40lbs. each, so that makes it 80lbs total pressure for a trunk lid. I played around with one of the 50lbs. that I just got and I even had a hard time pressing down on the gas spring, plus that would mean 50lbs each would be 100lbs. total pressure to close a trunk lid.... I can just imagine over time that something may break due to the pressure it may give when the trunk is close.I may not return the 50lbs each afterall and try it anyway... if it seems too hard to close the lid I will use the 20lbs each. Either way I will let you all know.
Thanks.
RC
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Rep Power: 0 wow this thread resurfaced...i've been using 50lbs struts for a long while...since my first post on the subject...absolutly no problems...no warpage of any kind...no problems whatsoever
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