Gas springs for the rear window
Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel
Gas springs for the rear window
So my springs cannot hold the window anymore, but i can't find any replacement specifically for the 480. So does someone know any compatible springs i can use?
1987 Volvo 480 ES (red)
- jamescarruthers
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 2517
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: Gas springs for the rear window
They are widely available. However...
My choice would be to send yours (along with the pop up light gas struts which are probably also very weak now) to SGS Engineering. They will recharge yours and if they hold a pressure, send them back. If they don't hold pressure, they'll send you replacements.
https://www.sgs-engineering.com/gas-struts
My choice would be to send yours (along with the pop up light gas struts which are probably also very weak now) to SGS Engineering. They will recharge yours and if they hold a pressure, send them back. If they don't hold pressure, they'll send you replacements.
https://www.sgs-engineering.com/gas-struts
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
-
- Can tell where the 480 was built
- Posts: 319
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 3:44 pm
- Location: Aberdeenshire, Huntly
Re: Gas springs for the rear window
Handy wee thing to know James...jamescarruthers wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:12 pmThey are widely available. However...
My choice would be to send yours (along with the pop up light gas struts which are probably also very weak now) to SGS Engineering. They will recharge yours and if they hold a pressure, send them back. If they don't hold pressure, they'll send you replacements.
https://www.sgs-engineering.com/gas-struts
out of curiosity, I take it a failure of a gas strut can put excess wear on a motor long term?
'91 480 ES 2.0l 16v 'Williams' Conversion - 212bhp/230nm
'90 940 GL 2.0l Estate
'08 XC90 D5 SE Premium
'90 940 GL 2.0l Estate
'08 XC90 D5 SE Premium
- jamescarruthers
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 2517
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: Gas springs for the rear window
I think the pop-up motor teeth will be under more pressure with a knackered strut when deploying the lights. But then you could argue that they will be under more pressure when retracting with a fully charged strut! So, I don't really know if it will prolong the light motor's life-- more spread the wear out!
I would say that the big issue with depleted struts on the pop-ups is that they bounce around like crazy when you are driving which must annoy other drivers and also yourself on a long journey on the motorway at night. After replacing/regassing the struts, they'll need aligned as the lights will be slightly higher.
I would say that the big issue with depleted struts on the pop-ups is that they bounce around like crazy when you are driving which must annoy other drivers and also yourself on a long journey on the motorway at night. After replacing/regassing the struts, they'll need aligned as the lights will be slightly higher.
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
Re: Gas springs for the rear window
SGS don’t recharge them, but they will give you brand new ones of equal length and poundage.
Henry (the green turbo) has a set on the pop ups; they list the tailgate ones in their catalogue and I tried to get them to include the pop ups in there too (after having mine as samples), so they may be there now.
Henry (the green turbo) has a set on the pop ups; they list the tailgate ones in their catalogue and I tried to get them to include the pop ups in there too (after having mine as samples), so they may be there now.
Re: Gas springs for the rear window
I don't know where everyone stands on the Skandix front but... they say they offer both. Not sure of the going rate over here; weather these are highly priced or not.
http://www.skandix.de/en/spare-parts/bo ... ?f=s240274
http://www.skandix.de/en/spare-parts/bo ... ?f=s240274
Re: Gas springs for the rear window
Skandix = thieves
- jamescarruthers
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 2517
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: Gas springs for the rear window
They do recharge them as they did two of the four I sent them. Can't remember which two they managed to do though.
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
Re: Gas springs for the rear window
I'm going to try to use universal springs for the hatch they should do it just fine.jamescarruthers wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:12 pmThey are widely available. However...
My choice would be to send yours (along with the pop up light gas struts which are probably also very weak now) to SGS Engineering. They will recharge yours and if they hold a pressure, send them back. If they don't hold pressure, they'll send you replacements.
https://www.sgs-engineering.com/gas-struts
1987 Volvo 480 ES (red)
Re: Gas springs for the rear window
A word of caution.
I have 1 strut on the hatch the same size as the originals which came from a rover 216 coupe.
Holds the glass great but I recently noticed that when closed it pushes the glass out of line giving a small gap at the rear lamp.
For the hatch and lamps have a look at the body of the strut and you might see a small ridge, this is a by pass. There is no pressure until lifted and when closed the assistance stops.
Something to be aware of.
I have 1 strut on the hatch the same size as the originals which came from a rover 216 coupe.
Holds the glass great but I recently noticed that when closed it pushes the glass out of line giving a small gap at the rear lamp.
For the hatch and lamps have a look at the body of the strut and you might see a small ridge, this is a by pass. There is no pressure until lifted and when closed the assistance stops.
Something to be aware of.
Re: Gas springs for the rear window
you can get correct length and poundage units from 'tinternet' I got a pair and were not 'super' expensive, well not into rear-light arenaFox wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2019 10:53 pmI'm going to try to use universal springs for the hatch they should do it just fine.jamescarruthers wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:12 pmThey are widely available. However...
My choice would be to send yours (along with the pop up light gas struts which are probably also very weak now) to SGS Engineering. They will recharge yours and if they hold a pressure, send them back. If they don't hold pressure, they'll send you replacements.
https://www.sgs-engineering.com/gas-struts
Alan
480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1
480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1