Boot Lid Gas Strusts

Kiriyama · January 19, 2008

The springs on my IS200 Sport boot lid are too weak and it only opens about half an inch when the locking mechanism releases.

Some ever-so-helpful members have directed me to this thread

Boot Lid Needs Viagra

detailing where to find gas struts to use instead and how to fit them. Looks a fairly simple job, even for the likes of myself!

The thing is, you only need one strut but have to buy in pairs so if I ordered two, one of them would just go to waste.

Anyone interested in going halves on them?

Here are the parts :

Gas Struts

They're £41.19 + about £5 postage so if anyone wants to go 50 / 50 on the total cost including P&P, I'd be happy to forward one strut to you for free (UK mainland!).

Thanks, Steve.

Kiriyama · January 19, 2008

PS - I've had a price for new springs instead and they're about £23 each + p&p so you may as well go for the strusts!

MacRS200 · January 19, 2008

If you order on line RS won't charge for delivery.

maz786 · January 19, 2008

i think hes on about the cost to post it out to the person who will go halves with him!

i would go halves but looks like a process to fit and don't like the idea of it bouncing up too quickly!

sparkystav · January 19, 2008

Honetsly its not hard to do, and you can decide how you want it to bounce up by the amount of gas you release.

Stav

maz786 · January 19, 2008

what bout this bracket thing you have to buy to screw it onto the back of the seats? wer do i get that from ? i may consider if everything comes with it, to do a straight fit!

WylieCoyote · January 19, 2008

Does it involve drilling or any butchering of components of any description?

sparkystav · January 19, 2008

LOL no it doesn't come with it,

you just need some angle bar (L shaped bar) cut a small length, two holes in one side to screw to car, one on the other to attach the strut.

Stav

maz786 · January 19, 2008

lol thats sooo long! if kiriyama can get me those L shaped thing il give him 25 altogether!

let me know!

WylieCoyote · January 19, 2008

Would it damage the bootlid if it came open too fast?

Edit, that's my 1000'th post! yay!

Kiriyama · January 19, 2008

Would it damage the bootlid if it came open too fast?

Probably but as it says in the descriptive thread, you can adjust the pressure and rate at which the rods extend so on the first few attempts, you'd just have to keep hold of the lid to make sure it doesn't snap open. Once you've released the right amount of gas then it's not going to damage the boot lid and you can always add rubber grommets to control the 'bounce' that some people have mentioned. If I thought there was any chance of damaging my car then I wouldn't do it.

As for any 'butchering' (lol), there is already a hole in the arm that supports the boot lid so the only thing you need to do is attach the bracket to the back of the seats which just requires a couple of self tapping screws. If you decided you didn't like the strut and took it out, nobody would ever know it had been there.

With regard to ordering from RS, I didn't read through it fully but it sounded like you only got free postage if you were a member but I haven't checked what's involved with that.

Tell you what, I'll order the parts anyway and have a look for TWO brackets, then I'll get back to you all and see who wants one :winky:

maz786 · January 19, 2008

id be interested if you find brackets to go with it! thanks

andy_in_leeds · November 16, 2016

I just got an IS200 and the torsion bars in the boot are foobar.

Just been to the breakers and found some 440mm ones but I think the bolts are not long enough to go through the hinge.

Does anyone know what cars have boot struts that are suitable for the IS200?

The ones I got came from a Citeron Berlingo. I think they might be too strong also.

Thanks.

steve2006 · November 16, 2016

Hello and welcome to the LOC.

I think it is usually the gas struts that fail, the link below is a company well recommended by other members.

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/car-boot-tailgate/lexus/is

andy_in_leeds · November 16, 2016

Thanks Steve,

So the IS300 struts are good for the IS200 also?

I'[ll get one ordered.

steve2006 · November 16, 2016

8 minutes ago, andy_in_leeds said:

Thanks Steve,

So the IS300 struts are good for the IS200 also?

I'[ll get one ordered.

Just noticed that, may be a good idea to contact them before ordering to confirm.

andy_in_leeds · November 16, 2016

Yes, will do. These are reasonably priced compared to the ones that are £54 a pair.

andy_in_leeds · November 17, 2016

I just called about these struts.

According to the sales lady the body is 280mm and the total length is 535mm.

Is that right? I thought the body needed to be 440mm?

andy_in_leeds · December 8, 2016

I've done this job now so I have a spare strut if anyone wants it.

sorcerer · December 8, 2016

11 minutes ago, andy_in_leeds said:

I've done this job now so I have a spare strut if anyone wants it.

You're actually supposed to replace them in pairs, even if just one has failed, because the new one is obviously stronger than the old one. Force variation will cause side loading and premature failure.