Tail gate or bonnet gas struts etc

Richard Mole · Post by **Richard Mole** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:54 pm

I need a chromed steel rod 8mm diameter 370mm long (as a minimum).

The D18 drawings called up a Peugeot 504 strut which had this specification which was then cut off to L=30mm (or whaterver) for use as aluminium pulley axes. Brilliant idea as there is no need for a ball race just a carefully machined plain bush.

I am planning on doing the same thing, that is cutting off the chromed strut but for my own application (noting to do with pulleys this time) I need at least L= 370mm.

Does anybody out there know of a vehicle that uses such a long strut?

Ian Melville · Post by **Ian Melville** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 4:13 pm

That is quite long
Just measured the Mondeo @ 8mm and not even close to 370mm. Focus @ 8mm and about 300mm. Both are estates. Don't know if the hatch version is longer or not.

Might be worthwhile contacting these people to seem to make custom struts, and ask for some 8mm rod
http://www.strutsdirect.co.uk/component ... struts.php

Not sure what you want it for but seems to be a heavy option

Rich Collins · Post by **Rich Collins** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:41 am

Richard

Would a piece of 8mm dia. Stainless Steel work?

I have some if thats a help

Richard Mole · Post by **Richard Mole** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:24 pm

Ian, yes its long and maybe a bit optimistic of me to expect to find such a gas strut. But you never know without asking around, they may just exist somewhere; that said, almost by definition a well-designed modern vehicle will have shorter lighter struts or else some other form of restraint or dampener or opener assistance. I tried emailingth compay you kindly suggested but so far ther has been no response.

Hi Rich, maybe yes. May see you Friday am to discuss as I will be giving Steve Rice a hand at the airfield.

Ian Melville · Post by **Ian Melville** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:26 pm

I did find a company who can supply a 8mm strut with 370mm stroke............. in Australia

so they do exist.
http://www.strutspecialists.com.au/ugs.html

Ian Melville · Post by **Ian Melville** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:26 am

Richard, I had a thought in the middle of the night

Inkjet printers have a nice chrome or SS bar in them for the heads to slide on.
My current A3 printer has on 500mm long and 15mm dia. I used to have a A4 bar in my scrap bin, which I was going to use in a project in a similar way to you (flight sim controls). It was around 300-350 mm and 8-10mm dia. Pitty I threw it out.

Nick Allen · Post by **Nick Allen** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 2:48 pm

Richard, you could try Stabilus in Banbury -- they were very helpful when we needed a strut for our canopy.
http://www.stabilus.com/home.html

Richard Mole · Post by **Richard Mole** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 9:06 am

Ian and Nick, thanks for the links.

I have found a supplier of gas struts less than 20 miles from home that do an 8mm rod length 400mm. Not quite perfect as I gather that the rod is nitrided rather than hard chromed. Will have to chase up the iimplications. Also stainless rods are available on gas struts for harsh environments but the 8mm stainless struts are made available in shorter lengths than the nitrided mild steel ones (for obvious reasons).

So I guess I am really going to have to call at my local breakers yard, if they still exist - I recall that when I first saw a PC in a scrap yard portacabin it brought home to me just how far IT had penetrated the business world of the day.

So if there are any car enthusiasts out there who go to scappers for a jolly day out could they please keep an eye open for a hard chromed 8mm gas strut at least 370mm long!