One of those insidious little problems where the tailgate gas struts gradually deteriorate LOL .... well the recent cold snap finished the little devils off !
So on to ebay and bought a pair of 'top quality' chinese pattern struts !
Anyway they arrived just before Chrimble - seem ok quality to look at,take 5 mins to change and now have a tailgate which actually opens itself
NTB for 15 squid posted.
Re: Tailgate struts replaced :)
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2018 8:39 am
by littlepolo
They seem to have put op the price following your recommendation (£1,014.99)
It will be interesting to know how they last.
Re: Tailgate struts replaced :)
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2018 10:08 am
by bvs
LOL they were 14.99 last week - I will remove the link
Thanks for the heads up LP
Re: Tailgate struts replaced :)
Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 3:14 pm
by littlepolo
I've just purchased a similar pair of struts off eBay.
There were no fitting instructions and they seem very tight. I cannot compress them by hand.
Did you experience similar and/or how did you fit them please?
Re: Tailgate struts replaced :)
Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 3:52 pm
by bvs
Yes I could not compress them by hand either.
Both ends of the strut are locked by a spring 'U' clip,just need to get a small screwdriver under the clip and withdraw it - then the strut end cup just pulls off its ball type mounting.
youtube clip - I just used a broom handle to support the tailgate.
rgds baz
Re: Tailgate struts replaced :)
Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 5:06 pm
by littlepolo
Thanks. Water off a duck's back for a Polo owner.
After that is done my next job is to rig something (likely a pair of self-tappers) up to hang the parcel shelf cords from (the original lugs sheared off).
Re: Tailgate struts replaced :)
Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 6:01 pm
by Dpautobodys
littlepolo wrote: ↑Sat Jan 20, 2018 5:06 pm
Thanks. Water off a duck's back for a Polo owner.
After that is done my next job is to rig something (likely a pair of self-tappers) up to hang the parcel shelf cords from (the original lugs sheared off).
Ditto, mine are bloody broke.
Re: Tailgate struts replaced :)
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:49 pm
by RUM4MO
Yes, what a stupid design! I must have been lucky as I got hold of the mounting as soon as I was told by my wife, that one side had broken off, then drilled it, tapped it and fitted a suitable screw right through the broken part and down through the trim and used structural cement on it as well! That repair lasted until we sold that car many years later at 13 years old and 106K miles.
So, maybe try to fashion a new lug from plastic and do what I did as that will probably last longer than just a self tapper?
Re: Tailgate struts replaced :)
Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2018 1:53 pm
by littlepolo
Struts replaced with eBay specials. Everything seems to be OK.
Parcel shelf hangers to follow (when warmer weather arrives)
