Gas springs for the rear window

Everything that doesn't belong in the previous categories probably belongs here. Interiour (how are the seats mounted? how to remove the CEM?) and exteriour (how to replace the popup-lights shock absorbers or a door) are discussed here!

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Fox
480 Newbie
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Location: Sweden

Gas springs for the rear window

Post by Fox » Tue Aug 20, 2019 2:53 pm

So my springs cannot hold the window anymore, but i can't find any replacement specifically for the 480. So does someone know any compatible springs i can use?
1987 Volvo 480 ES (red)

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jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
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Re: Gas springs for the rear window

Post by jamescarruthers » Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:12 pm

They are widely available. However...‎

My choice would be to send yours (along with the pop up light gas struts which are probably also very weak now)‎ to SGS Engineering. They will recharge yours and if they hold a pressure, send them back. If they don't hold pressure, they'll send you replacements. 

https://www.sgs-engineering.com/gas-struts‎
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

cranna21
Can tell where the 480 was built
Posts: 313
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 3:44 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire, Huntly

Re: Gas springs for the rear window

Post by cranna21 » Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:18 pm

jamescarruthers wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:12 pm
They are widely available. However...‎

My choice would be to send yours (along with the pop up light gas struts which are probably also very weak now)‎ to SGS Engineering. They will recharge yours and if they hold a pressure, send them back. If they don't hold pressure, they'll send you replacements. 

https://www.sgs-engineering.com/gas-struts‎
Handy wee thing to know James...

out of curiosity, I take it a failure of a gas strut can put excess wear on a motor long term?
'91 480 ES 2.0l 16v 'Williams' Conversion - 212bhp/230nm
'90 940 GL 2.0l Estate
'08 XC90 D5 SE Premium

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jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
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Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: Gas springs for the rear window

Post by jamescarruthers » Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:49 pm

I think the pop-up motor teeth will be under more pressure with a knackered strut when deploying the lights. But then you could argue that they will be under more pressure when retracting with a fully charged strut! So, I don't really know if it will prolong the light motor's life-- more spread the wear out!

I would say that the big issue with depleted struts on the pop-ups is that they bounce around like crazy when you are driving which must annoy other drivers and also yourself on a long journey on the motorway at night. After replacing/regassing the struts, they'll need aligned as the lights will be slightly higher. ‎‎
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2464
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2016 11:03 am

Re: Gas springs for the rear window

Post by jifflemon » Tue Aug 20, 2019 5:43 pm

SGS don’t recharge them, but they will give you brand new ones of equal length and poundage.
Henry (the green turbo) has a set on the pop ups; they list the tailgate ones in their catalogue and I tried to get them to include the pop ups in there too (after having mine as samples), so they may be there now.

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edie_fox
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Re: Gas springs for the rear window

Post by edie_fox » Tue Aug 20, 2019 8:32 pm

I don't know where everyone stands on the Skandix front but... they say they offer both. Not sure of the going rate over here; weather these are highly priced or not. :)

http://www.skandix.de/en/spare-parts/bo ... ?f=s240274

jifflemon
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Re: Gas springs for the rear window

Post by jifflemon » Tue Aug 20, 2019 8:39 pm

Skandix = thieves

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jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
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Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: Gas springs for the rear window

Post by jamescarruthers » Tue Aug 20, 2019 8:52 pm

They do recharge them as they did two of the four I sent them. Can't remember which two they managed to do though. ‎
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

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edie_fox
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Posts: 415
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:05 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: Gas springs for the rear window

Post by edie_fox » Tue Aug 20, 2019 9:17 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2019 8:39 pm
Skandix = thieves
:lol: I did know your thoughts!

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Fox
480 Newbie
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Jul 13, 2019 10:29 am
Location: Sweden

Re: Gas springs for the rear window

Post by Fox » Tue Aug 20, 2019 10:53 pm

jamescarruthers wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:12 pm
They are widely available. However...‎

My choice would be to send yours (along with the pop up light gas struts which are probably also very weak now)‎ to SGS Engineering. They will recharge yours and if they hold a pressure, send them back. If they don't hold pressure, they'll send you replacements. 

https://www.sgs-engineering.com/gas-struts‎
I'm going to try to use universal springs for the hatch they should do it just fine.
1987 Volvo 480 ES (red)

arthuy
Advanced 480 rookie
Posts: 562
Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2016 8:02 pm

Re: Gas springs for the rear window

Post by arthuy » Sat Aug 24, 2019 6:06 pm

A word of caution.

I have 1 strut on the hatch the same size as the originals which came from a rover 216 coupe.

Holds the glass great but I recently noticed that when closed it pushes the glass out of line giving a small gap at the rear lamp.

For the hatch and lamps have a look at the body of the strut and you might see a small ridge, this is a by pass. There is no pressure until lifted and when closed the assistance stops.

Something to be aware of.

Alan 480
480 Is my middle name
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Location: Aberdeen

Re: Gas springs for the rear window

Post by Alan 480 » Sun Aug 25, 2019 2:29 am

Fox wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2019 10:53 pm
jamescarruthers wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:12 pm
They are widely available. However...‎

My choice would be to send yours (along with the pop up light gas struts which are probably also very weak now)‎ to SGS Engineering. They will recharge yours and if they hold a pressure, send them back. If they don't hold pressure, they'll send you replacements. 

https://www.sgs-engineering.com/gas-struts‎
I'm going to try to use universal springs for the hatch they should do it just fine.
you can get correct length and poundage units from 'tinternet' I got a pair and were not 'super' expensive, well not into rear-light arena :wink:
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

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