Monday, March 20, 2006 - 04:40 pm, by: Will Adams(Draco)
Checking the forum, I found that the following is the part numbers used for the bonnet struts on the Soarer. Now I called Toyota (if anyone here in Perth calls the Perth branch, they won't have these listed as it isn't their computer but they are valid codes), and they advised me that it will cost $245 each ex-Japan.
Is there a cheaper alternative? How does the regassing work, and will this actually resolve the problem? The forums suggested that bonnet struts weren't available through Supercheap Autos.
Monday, March 20, 2006 - 10:36 pm, by: Brett Moloney(Lxsv8)
Will I sourced a new set from AUTO AND INDUSTRIAL GAS STRUTS in Victoria who are supplied a pair to the Gold Coast for me for $80 delivered. They work fantastic. This mob were on EBAY as an Ebay shop
Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 04:28 pm, by: Roger Costello(Roger)
Will
Strut Specialists
1/ 53 Guthrie St OSBORNE PARK WA 6017
Phone (08) 9445 9119
Have them in stock and will do a drive in drive out replacement in about 25 minutes for around $85. You can chose refurbished for a bit less, around $60. $85 would be new struts and fittings including installation.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 06:10 pm, by: David Vaughan(Davidv)
Has anyone here ever converted a car from prop-rod to gas strut? Obviously not a problem for a Soarer but one of the cheap points on the IS200/IS300 is use of a prop-rod for the bonnet, and it has just occurred to me that with these aftermarket products around, I might be able to convert it without too much trouble....
Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 06:58 pm, by: Roger Costello(Roger)
Shane
Yes same prices for boot struts, They also have a van that will do them at your work or home, slightly more expensive.
David
I have seen many conversions to gas struts using stainless steel brackets. Cost in Perth for an IS200 is about $100. You need someone who has done them before as the struts have to be pressurized fairly precisely and you can adjust pressure up but not down. The IS200/300 bonnet is not very strong and will not take short high pressure struts without bending. The long Soarer style units will work fine but at a lot lower pressure setting. Try calling Strut Specialists and see if they can make you up a kit to suit. You will probably have to drill and tap the mount points on the bonnet.
Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 08:14 am, by: Will Adams(Draco)
Looks like it's the goods. I will give them a call soon and arrange it. Just a question, is it easy to install these by yourself? I assume they just pop out and you just pop the new ones in?
Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 10:35 am, by: Roger Costello(Roger)
Will You will need to change the ball ends and clips unless they are refurbished or OEM struts. About 10 - 15 minutes usually. If you choose to refurbish your struts rather than take an exchange set or new units, about 1 to 1.5 hours as the seal softener takes a while to work before the struts can be recharged. Best result will be with your car in the Osborne Park workshop where they have every possible part needed and can get the nitrogen pressure exactly right. I personally would go with new struts for the small extra cost.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 - 07:19 pm, by: Jimmy James(Jimmyajames)
Hey Guys,
Just an update to an old thread.
Strut Specialists are still around. Went out that way today and got a quote from them.
Brand New Replacements are $99/installed and usually done in 15-20mins while you wait. Re-doing your old ones is around $55 (from memory) and not too sure how long this will take.
They are now located at:
5/35 Guthrie Street, Osborne Park Tel: 94459119
Cheers, Jimmy
Peter Nitschke Junk Filterer South Australia UZZ30 UZZ31
Friday, April 03, 2009 - 12:46 am, by: Peter Nitschke(Pen)
The original struts are stainless steel, and after having my boot struts regassed over 4 years ago, they haven't lost any pressure.
The new struts are unlikely to be as good a quality, though they will be OK for a few years.
When my struts were regassed, if the boot was in the hot sun and I hit the release, it would gently open right up due to the increased heat pressure. Otherwise it would just pop up a couple of centimetres, which is great for when it's raining etc.
This summer, it still does it, and it would only take a very small drop in pressure for the hot sun trick not to work.
Previous
