|
Hello. The FCP-Groton tailgate struts are half the price of OEM / Sachs struts. They seem well made, but they are 1/4 inch longer than the originals which are 11.5 inches long on the 1998 V70. The ones that I bought specified that they were made for my model. Struts cannot be compressed by hand to fit, but require a vise or 1" pipe clamp capable of reaching 12 inches and able to compress with a force of several hundred pounds; quick grip clamps won't do the job. If you don't have such a tool, don't buy the FCP-Groton strut. When you compress a strut, you need a jig to restrain the strut from full expansion until it is in place. A pair of 1/2 inch steel pipe straps and a pair of copper colored steel wire pipe hooks from Lowes worked for me; 16 gauge wire will break. Straighten the bow in the wire pipe hooks and cut one of the nail ends of each to about a half inch or slightly less to act as a strap hook on that end; refer to this as the 1st end. Seat the ends of the struts in the bottoms of the pipe strap "U"s in the vise. Compress the strut about an inch. Bend up the pipe strap wings to be able to slip in the wire hooks. Measure the length of wire needed to reach between the pipe strap holes on each end; maybe 8.5 inches + 0.5 inch for making a strap hook at the 2nd end, then cut and bend the 2nd end. You'll want to have a wide "V" at each end of the wire hooks. Slip the two wire pipe hooks into the pipe straps holes. You should now have two pipe hooks parallel to the strut and holding the pipe straps at each end of the strut. The vise can be opened and the strut mounted - the tailgate will need to be lowered to the point where the strut can be mounted.
Note: Keep the jig for when you have to replace these struts or you'll never be able to get them off again.
Or, just buy struts that you can trust to fit. Having the 1st strut off is a lousy time to find out that the replacement isn't an exact fit.
In any case, only do one strut at a time.
I hope this is helpful.
Best wishes, Art
|
