Are My W123 300TD New Rear Hatch Struts Faulty??? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

johnbob · #1 06-21-2022, 02:17 AM

Has this happened to anyone else?

About a year ago I bought a pair of brand new rear hatch struts (Stabilus brand) for my 1979 300TD wagon. I was experiencing the common problem of a hatch that would no longer stay up. I installed the new hatch struts and now the hatch stays up, but... it goes up and stays up but it doesn't fully extend. The hatch door still sags about a foot too low, which is basically the exact height for me to constantly hit my head on the corners of the hatch door. If I grab the hatch and push it up it will extend freely and it will fully extend but as soon as I let go it falls back down and hovers about a foot too low again. I was thinking maybe something else was wrong, like maybe a bent hinge or something but that doesn't seem to be the case and other than the hinges and the struts, there doesn't seem to be many other things it could be, it's a pretty simple set up. A friend of mine thinks that the struts are bad despite the fact that they were new. He thinks that I may have received some old struts that have been sitting on a shelf for years and are faulty. Does that sound possible? They do kind of seem like they don't have enough gas (or whatever is in there) to push the hatch all the way up but how likely would it be to get brand new struts that are kind of out of gas? I've had them long enough that I can't return them now so I'm considering buying another set but I wanted to see if this has happened to anyone else first.

HughO · #2 06-21-2022, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnbob

Has this happened to anyone else?

About a year ago I bought a pair of brand new rear hatch struts (Stabilus brand) for my 1979 300TD wagon. I was experiencing the common problem of a hatch that would no longer stay up. I installed the new hatch struts and now the hatch stays up, but... it goes up and stays up but it doesn't fully extend. The hatch door still sags about a foot too low, which is basically the exact height for me to constantly hit my head on the corners of the hatch door. If I grab the hatch and push it up it will extend freely and it will fully extend but as soon as I let go it falls back down and hovers about a foot too low again. I was thinking maybe something else was wrong, like maybe a bent hinge or something but that doesn't seem to be the case and other than the hinges and the struts, there doesn't seem to be many other things it could be, it's a pretty simple set up. A friend of mine thinks that the struts are bad despite the fact that they were new. He thinks that I may have received some old struts that have been sitting on a shelf for years and are faulty. Does that sound possible? They do kind of seem like they don't have enough gas (or whatever is in there) to push the hatch all the way up but how likely would it be to get brand new struts that are kind of out of gas? I've had them long enough that I can't return them now so I'm considering buying another set but I wanted to see if this has happened to anyone else first.

Ifyou compare the new with the old struts and the extended length matches, your friend is likely correct

johnbob · #3 06-21-2022, 12:13 PM

Damn, I threw the old ones away awhile ago. I think I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and buy new ones and find out for myself.

barry12345 · #4 06-21-2022, 01:16 PM

If you can open the hatch to the normal level the struts are long enough, for whatever reason they are weak. Or hinges are binding perhaps needing lubrication.

I would not buy the same brand though again. They may be a universal type and just too weak for the weight of your hatch. Or crap aftermarket. You still might try a return as well. You will need the bill though.

resto108 · #5 06-21-2022, 05:31 PM

Only one of them may be faulty. Take them out and see if one is noticeably weaker than the other. Replace the weak one.

vwnate1 · #6 06-21-2022, 11:09 PM

You got at least one defective one .

I bought two sets (duh) and they sat for three years before I installed one pair, they're working fine, it takes a mighty shove to close the hatch now .

Since you're in Los Angeles I may be able to help you out here.....

E-Mail me please .

TIA,

johnbob · #7 06-22-2022, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry12345

If you can open the hatch to the normal level the struts are long enough, for whatever reason they are weak. Or hinges are binding perhaps needing lubrication.

I would not buy the same brand though again. They may be a universal type and just too weak for the weight of your hatch. Or crap aftermarket. You still might try a return as well. You will need the bill though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by resto108

Only one of them may be faulty. Take them out and see if one is noticeably weaker than the other. Replace the weak one.

I'll find out soon enough because I just ordered a new set.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

You got at least one defective one .

I bought two sets (duh) and they sat for three years before I installed one pair, they're working fine, it takes a mighty shove to close the hatch now .

Since you're in Los Angeles I may be able to help you out here.....

E-Mail me please .

TIA,

Oh man, I wish I saw this sooner, I just ordered a new set last night. I couldn't bought your extra set from you. Oh well, thanks though.

vwnate1 · #8 06-22-2022, 04:56 PM

So sorry, I've been out of town a week and am seriously backed up on unread E-Mails .

I've been tossing out truckloads of W123 parts, no one wants them sadly and I only have two left, if good shape and I can no longer physically do the manual labor so don't need the crap lying around .