Rear lift-gate gas strut options

[CMB]

Hi there, I just bought two Previas, one for our family and one for my mother-in-law. Both are in good running condition as we speak, but both have poor rear lift-gate struts/supports. Are there aftermarket options for these? Both have the heavier gate with the wiper. I called toyota to find out they are 190 each! thanks, and long live the previa!771770772773774

[timsrv]

Here's some on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-New-Liftgate-Lift-Support-Strut-Toyota-Previa-1991-97-/220825225283?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3APrevia&hash=item336a358843&vxp=mtr. There's other sellers who sell regular struts and give you a "hardware kit" to make them fit. I used those once & they worked okay but I didn't like the they way they mounted. The hardware kit was basically a couple of strut balls that threaded into bracket holes. I was worried they would stress the frame. If I had to do it again I'd get the ones I linked you to (above) as these come with the factory type mounting brackets. Tim

[BFG Previa]

CMB, If you're able to track down a hydraulics shop locally who can rebuild the original ones, they can often add better compression than original. I did this once with a different vehicle (landcruiser) and the lift hatch which hardly kept itself up became a lift hatch which "sprung" up (almost too much, actually). Point is, for the price of aftermarket new you may be able to rebuild and the rebuilt struts may work better than the new aftermarkets.

For what it's worth...

PS: I think I picked up some aftermarket (NAPA) struts for my Previa and they've worked pretty well for about five years now...lid stays up but for the price I wish I would have had the originals rebuilt.

[timsrv]

I didn't think these things were rebuildable. They can seriously rebuild for <$20 each?

[BFG Previa]

Can't say whether the Previa struts "can" be rebuilt, but I think it's worth looking into. I did the LC struts for $50 CAD at a local shop. I think I paid almost $30 ea. for the aftermarkets on my Previa, so it might be close :confused:

[CMB]

Well, I ended up buying two pair from that ebay listing. Thanks Tim. I would consider rebuilding hatch struts, if A) there was a local shop that provided such service , and b) the struts on these vans were OEM. Looks like they were both replaced with aftremarket (one pair is Gabriel) struts.

[perfoxhil]

Here's some on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-New-Liftgate-Lift-Support-Strut-Toyota-Previa-1991-97-/220825225283?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3APrevia&hash=item336a358843&vxp=mtr. There's other sellers who sell regular struts and give you a "hardware kit" to make them fit. I used those once & they worked okay but I didn't like the they way they mounted. The hardware kit was basically a couple of strut balls that threaded into bracket holes. I was worried they would stress the frame. If I had to do it again I'd get the ones I linked you to (above) as these come with the factory type mounting brackets. Tim

I have a bad strut (damper stay) on the left side of the back door. I tried to remove it but there seems to be a pin in the way of the ball coming out of the socket. Should I try to get new struts that come with a hardware kit? Any suggestions where to get this?

I also have a bad hinge on the left hand side of the back door. I bent it quite a bit by trying to force the door open. Way to go! Should I remove the hinge and try to bend it back somehow? Any ideas on where to get a replacement hinge?

I might also consider going to a scrap yard and pulling the struts and hinge. I also need a passenger side wiper arm and probably some other things. There seems to be a van in Arlington and another in Buckley. Far from Seattle. Any ideas on where else I might find a scrapped van?

[timsrv]

Just for clarification this is the Previa forum (I see in your profile you have an 88 van). FYI these struts won't work on Vanwagons. If you also own a Previa, then my apologies. Tim

[tbkilb01]

I Visited the local pick n pull to grab some lifts off a 91. As I opened the hatch,it sprung up. So i thought that they would be better than mine, that just held hatch open. Little did i know my 92 hatch is heavier... The pulled pair off the 91 just won't pull up the 92 hatch. I still have to heeve it up. They seem to hold it up but thats it. Hindsight :doh:. $10 though...