Lower Hatch Support
 

So riddle me this. The Lower Hatch - which I have yet to take apart, I would think it's just a sleeved unit. It's gotten quite stiff since last use on Sunday...aka, there is tension to even have it drop down - one must push it down and the tension makes it some work to compress it so that lower drops

The lower hatch has always just flopped down with ease, so I don't think there are any springs, etc to actully tension it out. In this scenario, it's the opposite. I need to use force to tension it down...as there is tension when opening. Very strange....complete opposite.

It is likely one of two things, or a combination of both:



1. The hinges - you can spray some penetrating lube on them, simply lift up the plastic flap attached to the body and spray the hinges.
2. The shocks or gas struts connecting the lower hatch to the body are shot.

Do some of the E53 cars have gas struts on the lower hatch? Mine doesn't - just a couple of plastic tubes that look like gas struts but aren't... :confused:

https://c1552172.ssl.cf0.rackcdn.com/916559_x800.jpg

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/51248402195/

Indeed . Hence I said in the wording sleeved as the lower literally drops right now and flips right up with a pinkie...

Now, it's as there is gas in there. There is tension inside the *barrell*, and I need to push the lower strut down, because it's as if something is tying the barrell ends from flopping straight down, all loosey goosey like it used to. It is very odd. With a failed gas strut, it's pretty obvious as the behaviour is like how the lower hatch used to behave when ~working~

for the wiki, as parts are here. It's just a spring inside. I suppose on one side a coil has snapped.....yeah, it's that stiff to open or close.