I think my trunk gas lift struts have run out of mojo (they are probably the original) and they are Stabilus GJA3800AB (I think the Jaguar part number is C2P4141). I think if you google around by the Jaguar parts number you get some ridiculous prices like $100+ or more each and if you google by the Stabilus number you find a bunch that are dirt cheap. So (1) any recommended sources for these gas struts that are both decent and decently priced and (2) any tricks to removing the old ones and installing the new ones? Looks like a 10 minute project to me but I know that few things are that simple on these vehicles.

 

Some of the best aftermarket hood, hatch, and trunk struts in the industry are made by StrongArm. I replaced the factory hood struts on my wife's 2015 Lexus RX350 with a pair of them a couple of years ago. They are much more robust than any factory pairs I have ever had to deal with. If any of our vehicles need replacement hood, hatch, or trunk struts in the future, I will order StrongArm pairs....

 

I replaced the struts on my hood and trunk shortly after I purchased my '06(about 3 yrs ago). They work to hold the units up, but do not 'raise' either. Is the hood supposed to 'Pop-up' on release, or just come up about 1/2" as mine does when I release the trunk?

 

I replaced my hood struts with a pair from Amazon. Around $20 as I recall. Work wonderfully a yr later.
John

 

I believe Stabillus is the manufacturer for the OEM struts/lifts. Their branded ones were $32.00 two years ago when I replaced them on my 03 coupe - much easier on the budget than the OEMs at $125 - 175 and not much more than the bargain ones on eBay.. They initially sprung the deck all the way up when unlocked, but soon settled in at about half-way up - the same as the OEMs when new/working. Unfortunately, when replacing the hood/bonnet lifts four years ago, I used the Uropart brand. They have never opened smoothly since I installed them, and you have to push the hood up the last foot of the way. Most times, you can pry the socket ends of the lifts off the ball mounts with a plastic, interior-work pry bar, if the joints still have some grease on them. If they remain stuck, prying the spring clips up off the socket end slightly will ease the tension enough to release them from the ball mounts. Fortunately, when greased, the new ones go on with a tap of your hand,

 

If I remember correctly I replaced my hood/trunk struts with units from Amazon. In both cases the release only allows the units to 'pop out' of the retaining mechanism. Both hood and trunk must be manually raised. I will not replace now as long as they hold the panels in the upright position(both do), but on replacement I will look at the Stabilius models.

 

eBay for sure $20. If they go bad again only another $20. I have them on both front and rear and they work fine.

 

I got my set on Amazon for about $13.

Details with pics are here in my working thread.

If you haven't done the front ones you should probably do those too. I covered that as well.

 

I replaced the units on my daily driver a few years ago with some from Amazon or eBay. No problems, saved money. My .02 TM

 

Well I finally got around to replacing those boot struts and have some observations that might be helpful. First and most important is to make sure whatever struts you buy are the correct length. When googling several sources for these there were instances where even though it said the struts were for my year XKR, they wouldn't have worked since the overall length was incorrect. Seems that the length for the coupes was different than for the convertible. I also knew the original Stabilus number and sometimes found correct equivalents and sometimes not. If you have a convertible the length from ball stud to ball stud should be 11.5" and overall length of strut is about 11.75" so that is the key. I ended up ordering from LiftSupportsDepot and wanted StrongArm based on the recommendation from Jon89. What comes up for the trunk are models 6584 and 6583--the ones I ordered were 6583 and these are the correct equivalents to the Stabilus ones that were originally on the vehicle.

Removing the old struts are a bit of a PITA, especially the top connection. Easiest thing is to stick a small blade screwdriver to pop the metal retaining band from around the plastic end. Once that is done you can wiggle out the top connection. Same process for the bottom one but a bit easier. Then fairly easy to pop on the replacement struts. Bottom one goes on first then the top one. The top is a bit fiddly due to clearance but it will eventually pop right on without needing to do any filing or reshaping of the plastic housing.

The new struts work great and now the boot doesn't accidentally close on my head anymore. The interesting thing is that when I push on the old Stabilus struts to see how bad they were, one of them is a solid as a rock--I really have to lean in on it with my full weight to get it to compress so it is essentially like new. But the other strut clearly bit the dust since it not take all that much effort to compress it.

Well that is the end of the story. Hope it helps.

 

Does the lid of the trunk actually rise, or just 'pop up' from the locked position. My trunk(XK8) only moves up about 3/4" from the locked position.

 

No the trunk lid will not rise all the way and just pops up a small amount. But then from that point it is quite easy to lift to fully open (as a bit of an effort with the old struts since one was shot). Closing the trunk takes a bit of effort but no big deal. I don't think you would want a situation where the trunk popped up all the way on its own anyway since it could whack you in the face