Gas struts failure
Submitted: Monday, Aug 29, 2016 at 15:43
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Member - nick b
Just returned from
Cape York trip ( Development Road )
birdsville etc , bought a brand new set of gas struts from a major parts retailer before I left that go on my boat rack on camper trailer and they have failed ~ leaked out gas before we got
home 10,000ks +trip 50 % on dirt roads . Could corrugated roads affect the internal workings of these gas struts ?.
Reply By: 9900Eagle - Tuesday, Aug 30, 2016 at 14:17
Tuesday, Aug 30, 2016 at 14:17
Nick,
I believe the struts will be cheap ones and have just plain failed. If they are in warranty, ask politely for new ones or your money back.
Dust and corrugations will cause a shorter life but not that short. Have a think about the bonnet struts used in vehicles, they last very long time before needing maintenance or replacement.
They are the same principle as the hydraulic rams on a tipper, dozer or any other piece of earthmoving equipment that run day in and day out through some serious dust and vibration. Sit in the chair of of a dozer on hard ground and you will know what I am talking about. Mostly, they last a good few years before they defecate themselves.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Ron N - Tuesday, Aug 30, 2016 at 17:30
Tuesday, Aug 30, 2016 at 17:30
Missus's old Camry is 15 yrs old and the bonnet struts still work just fine - however, not quite as effective as they were when it was new - so they have obviously lost a bit of gas over the 15 yrs.
Bonnet struts cop a lot of constant heating and cooling due to engine bay temperature variations, and that alone would create the potential for gas losses.
Cheers, Ron.
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Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Wednesday, Aug 31, 2016 at 19:43
Wednesday, Aug 31, 2016 at 19:43
thanks 990Eagle for your reply : they maybe cheap but certainly not cheap , lol
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Reply By: Sigmund - Wednesday, Aug 31, 2016 at 11:15
Wednesday, Aug 31, 2016 at 11:15
As Robert Pepper says, a shock is a device for converting movement to heat.
If there's more movement over a given time than the shock is designed for, there'll be excessive heat, and likely failure if not premature wear. Offroad and corrugations demand a lot of shocks. Even Bilsteins can fail under those circumstances.
Many people don't appreciate that in any case a shock is a wear item. Repeated heating degrades the oil and erratic damping is the result. If in doubt about yours, take them to a place with a shock dyno for testing. Or if they're cheapies, just replace them.
After 20,000 kms, many of them hard, my Dobinson MRRs needed servicing. The standard Dobinsons lasted 30,000. Go figure.
AnswerID:
603992
Follow Up By: Ron N - Wednesday, Aug 31, 2016 at 12:27
Wednesday, Aug 31, 2016 at 12:27
Sigmund - You appear to have missed the mark. The OP is talking about gas support struts, not gas shock absorbers. Totally different items, and totally different operating conditions.
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Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Wednesday, Aug 31, 2016 at 13:39
Wednesday, Aug 31, 2016 at 13:39
Sigmund sorry but we are talking about gas struts that hold up things like bonnet etc , this is boat rack on my camper trailer in this case .
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Follow Up By: Sigmund - Wednesday, Aug 31, 2016 at 13:46
Wednesday, Aug 31, 2016 at 13:46
Yes, I see that now. Thought you were talking about a Monroe gas strut or similar.
Oh
well, no charge.
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