How strong should the boots struts be?

[WinLoseOrBoth]

My 06 Tsport boot will stay open when it's all the way up top, but I have to lift it the full way myself, it'll come crashing down given any excuse. How good were the struts when the car was new, it's a heavy tailgate so I imagine extra heavy duty struts would've been needed from Toyota? Has anyone put uprated ones in there, like from SGS?

[Cyker]

My Mk2 had the same problem when I bought it - Boot struts are pressurised gas struts and they do leak slowly over time; Just get a new set and replace them, it's not too difficult and SGS provide videos that give the gist of how to do it.

Just make sure you have a friend to hold the boot lid up while you work on it - It's a lot heavier than you might think without support from the struts!! When I was replacing mine it looked like it was going to stay up on one strut after I removed the first one, but when I started fitting the new one it slowly started falling down and I had to hold it up with my head!  

[Catlover]

8 hours ago, Cyker said:

My Mk2 had the same problem when I bought it - Boot struts are pressurised gas struts and they do leak slowly over time; Just get a new set and replace them, it's not too difficult and SGS provide videos that give the gist of how to do it.

Just make sure you have a friend to hold the boot lid up while you work on it - It's a lot heavier than you might think without support from the struts!! When I was replacing mine it looked like it was going to stay up on one strut after I removed the first one, but when I started fitting the new one it slowly started falling down and I had to hold it up with my head!  

Would that have been an occasion when two heads would been better then one?  🤓

[Scarlett Arrow]

10 hours ago, WinLoseOrBoth said:

Has anyone put uprated ones in there, like from SGS?

Yes, and they represent good VFM.

Getting the old ones off can be a real PITA as Toyota used thread-lock at the factory, so some heat may well be required. I watched when mine were replaced, and it took three people. One with a spanner, one applying the heat, and another using a small heat shield to protect the paintwork.

[Roy124]

Had struts replaced on a Mondeo as the boot wing was an extra that demands stronger struts. 

And an E Class at about 12 years old. 

You could manage on your own if you have a secure prop, a broom or two might do it. 

 

[WinLoseOrBoth]

Cheers guys, yeah I had a Nissan 350z with a similar problem so I’ve done it before, SGS are the go to for struts 🙂

[Cyker]

I didn't even unbolt the brackets on mine IIRC - Just pulled up the retaining clips for the ball-joints with a flathead and popped them off, then popped on the new ones, pushed the retaining clips down, done! (While balancing the bootlid on my head  )