Date:         Mon, 27 Jul 1998 20:13:38 PDT
Reply-To:     Sean Bartnik <bartnik@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Sean Bartnik <bartnik@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: rear hatch gas shock lifespan?
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM, marcus46@FREEWWWEB.COM
Content-Type: text/plain

>David
>On my 1985.5 was every 5 years.But I use the rear door probably more
>than most.$100 per pair at dealer.And you have to manually lift the
door
>up.On the 1988, open it 14" and it will go up by it self.$69 per
set.But
>don't know where po got them.Germany made, Called Suspander/aut-fit
typ
>16-2 016 03455 6oon 3595.BTW the broomstick is too short. Unless you
use
>the bumper and then it might slip or scratch the paint.      Marcus
>
Wow, you paid too much :-(

Also, in the archives, there are warnings to stay away from the
Suspander brand.  I got my rear hatch struts, OEM, from Kyle at Volks
Cafe (http://www.volks-motorsports.com).  At the time they were $25
each, and they are two right-side struts for the vans with the rear
windshield wiper (heavier hatch).  Since the struts are interchangeable
left to right, I got two of the stronger right-side ones.  This was
almost 2 years ago and they're still going strong.  The door will stay
up even with a bike rack on the hatch (not with the bike on the rack,
tho :-) -- and I have to almost do a pull-up on the door to get it to
come down :-)

Also these struts have the neat feature of holding the door wherever you
stop opening or closing it.


Sean Bartnik
Fairfax, Virginia
============================
'81 Vanagon L Westfalia
'74 Karmann Ghia convertible
http://www.type2.com/bartnik/tech.htm


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