R33 GTR gas boot struts

[sleptema]

Just wanted to share with everyone some concrete information regarding replacing boot struts on R33 skyline, specifically the GTR but I am sure the information will be transferable. The reason I am posting is that there wasn't much information regarding pressures & the ability to remove the strut from the bracket (requiring drilling).

What I did ended up costing me $110.

Below is a picture I pulled from another thread, this is the part of the strut that is hard to remove. Very hard, but not impossible. What we did was use my 10mm spanner and wedge it in between the ball and the strut, then slowly work the it off. It looks like it's going to snap the strut and it ends up destroying it, but that's ok because new ones are cheap.

This is what mine looked like in the end.

We ended up putting 100nm of pressure in each cyl. It holds the boot fine with a genuine GTR spoiler. If I had to do it again, I would put 150nm in each to see if it holds any better, BUT that 100 works just fine.

Any questions please shoot them through.

Edited July 7, 2018 by sleptema

[GTSBoy]

What's 100nm in real pressure units?  You have given units of torque.  Pressure is measured in Pascals or multiples thereof (like kPa, MPa, etc) or in psi for knuckle dragging 'Muricans.  Or in N/mm2 (equivalent to MPa) or in bullshit units involving the heights of columns of fluid such as water or mercury.

[Ben C34]

It should be newton's, not newton/meters. I suppose it's just so common to say Nm he got confused.

So it's  not a pressure value but a linear force. That's how they designate gas struts.

[sleptema]

Yeah sorry guys, I was thinking about that this morning and realised how stupid I must sound aha. The guy who did my struts didn't correct me, I believe it would be newtons.

EDIT: Re-uploading pictures of finished product.

Edited July 8, 2018 by sleptema

[Ty1]

Where abouts did you get this done? And these are new struts yeah? or did you end up managing to reuse the factory ones?

[Tamorus]

Hi all,

I am also keen to know where I can buy these as I have been looking and found nothing except a few used struts on eBay.

Any help would be appreciated...Every time I need to use my boot at the moment I feel like I have my head in a guillotine!!

[sleptema]

On 7/31/2018 at 12:02 PM, Ty1 said:

Where abouts did you get this done? And these are new struts yeah? or did you end up managing to reuse the factory ones?

I used a generic strut specialist. Old ones needed to be thrown out as there was no way they could be re-used. He just used the brackets from the OEM ones and adapted them to fit on the new struts.

I believe he just measured the extents of the struts and ordered accordingly, and put above mentioned pressure into them.

[Fastlane]

Hello

my Gas Strut were weak so I want to replace them.

This Topic pointed me in the right direction, thanks !

You can chosse this Model from Mercedes Part No.: 2218800329 

It s from the W221 S Class Hood strut.

You can find them for around 14$ on Aliexpress. They are a little bit too strong so I recommend to buy some used ones.

I only replaced one and the Hod stays in any angle.

I recommend to tap an M6 in the Bracket and add a nut to secure the strut.

They are a 14mm  to short, so the Trunk opens 12 cm less. Adding a spacer will fix this

I also replaced the rubber bumper . They are from Aliexpress also.

Edited April 29, 2019 by Fastlane

[Fastlane]

So I did some research, cause the Mercedes Strut were to strong

The original USED Struts have 30 kg while pushing and approx.20-25kg while holding.

The new ones should be around 35kg-40kg

And i Find the perfect one again on Aliexpress

search for: 320Mm 400N Flap Spring Flap Fitting Gas Spring !

they match perfectly.

The Trunk lid will hold until 15cm before reaching the lock.

 

[MrStabby]

About 5 years ago I got a mobile guy to come out and regas the struts in the Stagea tailgate. Still going strong, so a good option if the struts are just weak.

[rych]

I hate to necro this but when you use a 10mm spaner to wedge the strut out did you had to drill a hole to make new strut fit? 

[sleptema]

On 13/08/2019 at 1:21 PM, rych said:

I hate to necro this but when you use a 10mm spaner to wedge the strut out did you had to drill a hole to make new strut fit? 

Nah, the strut guy just got a fitting on the new strut that fit over the 10mm ball joint.

[R33 Jared]

On 20/05/2019 at 8:47 PM, Fastlane said:And i Find the perfect one again on Aliexpress

search for: 320Mm 400N Flap Spring Flap Fitting Gas Spring !

they match perfectly.

The Trunk lid will hold until 15cm before reaching the lock.

 

Hopefully this is still correct years later because I’ve just purchased some. Cheers mate

[joshuaho96]

On 9/24/2020 at 8:50 PM, R33 Jared said:

Hopefully this is still correct years later because I’ve just purchased some. Cheers mate

Did this work out properly? I need a replacement for the trunk gas strut as well.

[Rusty Nuts]

14 hours ago, joshuaho96 said:

I need a replacement for the trunk gas strut

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/AUTOPA-Gas-Bonnet-Strut-for-Mercedes-W221-C216-S350-S450-S500-S63-A2218800329/254807343124?hash=item3b53b38014:g:5fMAAOSwBYteZbCj&frcectupt=true

here's the link on ebay for the struts, in stock in Sydney.

If you need any strange brackets or ends. Here's the link to a strange brackets or ends seller also local.

https://www.gasstrutaustralia.com.au/

[joshuaho96]

4 minutes ago, Rusty Nuts said:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/AUTOPA-Gas-Bonnet-Strut-for-Mercedes-W221-C216-S350-S450-S500-S63-A2218800329/254807343124?hash=item3b53b38014:g:5fMAAOSwBYteZbCj&frcectupt=true

here's the link on ebay for the struts, in stock in Sydney.

If you need any strange brackets or ends. Here's the link to a strange brackets or ends seller also local.

https://www.gasstrutaustralia.com.au/

I'm in the US, my concern is that the gas strut is too strong. The Alibaba generic one is said to be more appropriate, so I'm thinking of trying one of those first.

[Rusty Nuts]

15 minutes ago, joshuaho96 said:

The Alibaba generic one

Ah sorry mate, the ebay one I quoted is the one I used. It IS the same as the aliexpress one, so all good.

[IM-32-FK]

Don’t get replacement ones, you can get the OEM ones regassed. There’s a couple of places in Sydney that I know who do it.

[BK]

On 23/01/2021 at 3:09 PM, IM-32-FK said:

Don’t get replacement ones, you can get the OEM ones regassed. There’s a couple of places in Sydney that I know who do it.

Only if the seals are good. If they're not, which they probably aren't, they're a throw away. Just retain the top boot lid mounts to adapt to new ones.

[joshuaho96]

Yeah, I ordered the aliexpress china specials. I figure for potentially 240+ USD saved it's worth a shot.