Rear Hatch Gas Springs - don't lift anymore

[pelesl]

Originally Posted by bladesmith6

Go to www.mscdirect.com look up struts or gas cylinders. You just have to get the fully extended length and the right type of end fittings. probably 50 lb lift maybe? use the "gas springs" and a bunch should come up.

Same thing happened to my 2007. Really pathetic. I've had a hard time finding a replacement online; I think I found the assembly for $125 (my guess is that includes all the brackets).

McMaster is easier to search through than MSC. What you want is gas springs:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#gas-springs/

Their prices are not very good, but the search is great. After you find what you want, you can ask them who makes it, and then see if a distributor will give you a better price. But McMaster will ship it fast, and they give you zero hassles with returns---so if you can't close your hatch even with your whole family hanging on it, you won't have any trouble getting replacements.

In any case these are not cheap. You'll want stainless steel parts for sure. Or you can keep them coated in oil/grease, or hope that they fail before the rust is too severe anyway.

I don't have the car right now (getting serviced), but my biggest worry is that the ends are some custom thing and you won't be able to do anything without the Toyota part.

I'm not sure how you'd measure the compressed length---you can't get at these when the lid is closed, right?

The extended length should definitely be measured when they are off the car.

I'm not sure if there's room in there, but maybe you can shove a coil spring around the gas spring to help it that last bit? Century Spring is a good place for that (and good prices)---http://www.centuryspring.com/