Ebay springs to raise hatch

[srmmmm]

Well, here we are after a 14 degree F morning and the gas cylinder/supplemental spring setup isn't enough to unlatch the rear hatch again. I guess I'll test the lifetime warranty with FCP on the gas cylinders I bought from them. The eBay sourced springs seem to be permanently compressed.

Anybody else having issues with them?

2002 X5 3.0 315,100 miles
2014 428i 24,400 miles

2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles

1970 Firebird - Under restoration

[semcoinc]

Cold WX brings out the worst in those gas struts.

I sourced some low dollar springs, couldn't be more than ~$4 each, from the Ace Hardware spring bins and they are still doing great to give me just a little extra pop to keep the hatch latch from re-seating itself.

Mike

[MINIz guy]

What's the ID, OD, compressed and uncompressed lengths of this spring? I feel that McMaster can get me one for way less than $30/pair

[semcoinc]

Off hand I don't know the dimensions but I can measure it and post them up in a couple days.

It was easy for me to eyeball what I needed when I went through the Ace Hardware spring bins. The ID just has to be right about the diameter of the shock ball to get the spring to pass over it onto the shaft.

Mike

[Plattus1000]

Bought em, installed them, wife loves them.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by semcoinc

Off hand I don't know the dimensions but I can measure it and post them up in a couple days.

It was easy for me to eyeball what I needed when I went through the Ace Hardware spring bins. The ID just has to be right about the diameter of the shock ball to get the spring to pass over it onto the shaft.

Mike

Just an FYI (in case I'm misreading your post)...the "shock ball" screws off the shaft/rod. So if you're adding a "helper" spring...it only needs to fit over the shaft/rod...you screw the shock ball off...then slip the spring onto the shaft/rod.

You can see pics of this in post #65 on page 7.

[semcoinc]

Oh cool! I did not realize that the shock ball unscrewed!

Learn something new everyday.

Now when I replace those springs I can find smaller ID versions.

Mike

[Brads2002]

Had mine for about a year now. I am always showing it off...haha

Still working fine.

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by srmmmm

Well, here we are after a 14 degree F morning and the gas cylinder/supplemental spring setup isn't enough to unlatch the rear hatch again. I guess I'll test the lifetime warranty with FCP on the gas cylinders I bought from them. The eBay sourced springs seem to be permanently compressed.

Anybody else having issues with them?



2002 X5 3.0 315,100 miles
2014 428i 24,400 miles

2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles

1970 Firebird - Under restoration

Yeah not going to work in the cold. Got to wait until the warmer weather.

[Plattus1000]

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Yeah not going to work in the cold. Got to wait until the warmer weather.

With newer struts or higher strength ones, the springs open our hatch @ -7°F as of last weekend with stock replacement struts. Struts could be the difference?