Ebay springs to raise hatch

[Brads2002]

Anyone using these with the "soft close" lid?

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by Brads2002

Anyone using these with the "soft close" lid?

Mine is soft close. My experience- short as it is with the springs installed- is that the soft close only pulls in the last 1/2" or so. If there is 'stress', it is limited to this moment when the gate is pulled closer to the body.

It would be very difficult to guess whether it was the springs or just ~10 years of use that might be the cause of any issues.

[Brads2002]

Thanks, will give them a try

[spongerich]

I installed mine today and I think that they toss the hatch up WAY too fast. It 'slams' up to the top of the travel of the struts. (Which are brand new)

I think I'll take the springs off and shorten them a little so they're not so aggressive. I really want them to work... I HATE hitting the hatch button only to get back around the car to find that the @#$#$&* soft closer has soft closed and locked the tailgate.

[94csi]

Would installing only one (instead of both springs) work to make it less aggressive going up? Just a thought...I dont have any experience with them

[spongerich]

Originally Posted by 94csi

Would installing only one (instead of both springs) work to make it less aggressive going up? Just a thought...I dont have any experience with them

I tried just one and it was a little too weak. Since it only takes a couple minutes to fit them (assuming you remember to prop up the hatch BEFORE removing the strut) I'll probably cut one coil off of each and try them until I'm happy.

[Clockwork]

The UKseller I posted sells a HUGE variety of these springs

[ALLUCZ3]

Anyone with the specs on these springs? Outside diameter, length, wire diameter, rate material and load? With that data we can order them domestically...

[Joshdub]

Although probably not for $30 a set. Support the global economy

[PropellerHead]

A couple of weeks into these and I thought you might want to hear the most recent. I have now been to Home Depot (~400lbs of salt for the pool) a number of times, airport, Costco, etc. I have found that the hatch close that I once found difficult is very easy now. The extra effort seems 'normal' after a couple of weeks.

In these few weeks, I have never, not once engaged the rear hatch by accident. In contrast, we did pop the hatch on my mother in law's '01 3.0 E53, closed a door, and the hatch engaged just enough to lock it. She has bad shoulders, so I won't be getting a pair but it was a reminder of a consistent problem over ~11 years of driving E53s.

It is nice to pop the rear hatch for a spousal pickup on a grocery run or other bulky item. Pop it up and she loads in the items no problem. Very nice.

Anyway, that's my two weeks in. I've enjoyed them. Not a bad way to spend ~$80 (If you need new hatch struts). A great way to spend $30 (if you don't).