Saturday, September 08, 2007 - 11:31 am, by: Robert Carlyon(Bob)
I just had my boot struts re-gassed this morning and I thought fellow Soarer owners may be interested in a few observations.
My struts were still working, but the slightest breeze would push the boot down. Noting a number of members had used the replacement boot struts on EBAY, I thought I would check them out and the cost of re-gassing my OEM struts.
The difference in price was only about $5.00 dearer for re-gassing and I figured that surely a strut made in China or Taiwan could not be as good quality as the original Toyota boot strut. By getting the struts re-gassed, they are done locally, he takes them off and puts them back on, and I have warranty.
I decided to get them re-gassed and the local bloke here was very flexible with times and he only needs the car to take them off and put them on. You can even take them off and just give them to him to do and put them back on yourself (I wouldn't though, as he is happy to take them off and put them back which takes 5 minutes) All up, the whole job only takes an hour, so I just read the paper while he did them. I was telling him about the replacement struts people use and he was telling me that the struts on our Soarers are excellent quality that you don't see in struts made today. The shaft is hardened, which todays struts are not and he has seen a number of cheap struts rust.
The struts are now great and I can lift the boot with one finger rather than wrestling with its weight. There is also no way a breeze (or wind) will see the boot on my head.
Just a tip at the end, if you do them yourself, don't forget to take the black plastic stoppers off the boot hinge to get the extra lift, so you can put the struts back on. If you don't you will have to be Arnold Swarzenegger to get them back on.
Saturday, September 08, 2007 - 02:28 pm, by: Damian Ware(Frozenpod)
Humm, I have seen a car with brand new toyota struts.
When the boot was released it would go up all by itself with no assistance required.
Perhaps this was a freak car but I am unaware of anyone else that has used brand new OEM replacements for a comparison. If this is how brand new OEM boot struts are typically this would suggest that although your struts have highly improved they were not as good as brand new items. Or perhaps they were not charged to the same original pressure.
Saturday, September 08, 2007 - 02:53 pm, by: Robert Carlyon(Bob)
Vinh, I had them done by Strut Regas (see http://www.strutregassa.com.au/). I think in Melb they are in Fawkner, mine cost $66 to do both.
Damian, I can't really comment on NEW Toyota struts, my Soarer has the standard Toyota rear spoiler which does add a fair bit bit of weight of the boot lid. If you have had to hold up or lift the boot without the struts, you really notice how heavy it is. The strut guy told me that because of the weight of Soarer boot lid (with spoiler) it should not lift straight up for safety reasons.
Monday, September 10, 2007 - 02:30 pm, by: Lynton Scale(Lscale)
When I got my car 5 years ago I got my struts regassed, they went soft again about 3 months ago so I've just bought some ebay ones. While the quality of the original struts are probably second to none, I'm guessing the sealing mechanism eventually must wear and let the gas leak out. It will be interesting to see how long the ebay struts last - so far I can't fault them.
Monday, September 10, 2007 - 06:32 pm, by: Ben Kelly(Ace)
Robert i would also prefer the regas option. Can you inform of the price and whether they are able to alleviate any concerns about re-leaking (as per Lynyons' post)? ta
Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 07:37 pm, by: Robert Carlyon(Bob)
Ben, Mine cost $66.00 for the whole job, but sorry I can't offer any information regarding re-leaking. I suggest you give them a call and have a chat to them about it. I found the chap here in Adelaide quite approachable.
Ashley Leach DieHard South Australia GT Limited UZZ31 V8
Thursday, September 13, 2007 - 11:26 pm, by: Ashley Leach(Ashlar)
I got me some new ones from SuperCheap Auto and I have auto lift for the boot now. It's cool cause I can really try to smack people in the face if they get too close... HA!
I think I paid $15 each strut, took 10 mins to change (damn lock tight on the nuts) and I still have to OEM ones in my cupboard, for some reason I keep all my parts, knowing that they are better than after markets.
Dave Billings TryHard Louisiana SC 300, Manual Transmission
Friday, September 21, 2007 - 04:58 am, by: Dave Billings(Waveman1717)
My struts are COMPLETELY dead. How do they "re-gas" struts as I might try to do this myself, or someone try and do it add it to the "How To" thread. Cheers