Xoutpost.com - Should you slam or soft close the liftgate?

I have a 2006 facelift. There is a very good reason not to slam the tailgate. The two rubber stoppers either side in the drain channels are spring loaded. When I first bought mine, I found on odd spring plus a small round cup in one of the wells below the rear light. I also noticed some paint worn off where the upper hatch was striking the metalwork, due to slamming.

I subsequently discovered that the spring should have been located in the rubber buffer unit, and the little cup is an interference fit pressed in to retain the spring.

I replaced both buffers with new units, but a short while after found one of these in the same pieces again, so even a new unit will fail if slammed. I was able to re-assemble and peen over the metal to make a better job of retaining the spring. So, lower the tailgate then press till the auto close takes over is teh right way to do it...