Replacing your gas struts
Replacing your gas struts regularly is important for a number of reasons:
- Increase safety by getting rid of worn out struts
- Secure your tailgate from falling
- Enhance the ease of raising and lowering your tailgate
How to replace tailgate gas struts
Thinking about replacing the gas struts on your truck, ute or trailer tailgate yourself? Knowing how to fit and install your own gas struts can help you save a ton of money, time and effort. Instead of having to bring your vehicle into a professional workshop, or back to our expert team here at Dunn and Watson, you can save the trip to a mechanic by learning how to do it yourself.
Fortunately for you, we’ve put together a simple and easy-to-follow guide to help you get your gas struts replaced and functional.
* Important note: Removal & install of gas struts MUST NOT be done under load. Something secure must be in place to take pressure off the struts while handling. If unsure, removal & install should be done by a professional.
Step by step guide for replacing struts
Step 1 – Assemble the right tools
You don’t need a shed full of tools, however making sure you have the right equipment before starting will save you time and frustration. Take a moment before you begin to get all the tools assembled and you’ll be ready to go.
Step 2 – Remove the old struts
The gas struts are all secured to the tailgate by two separate bolts. One goes through the hinge bracket, and one works as an anchor for the safety cable and the strut itself.
To remove the gas struts, lower the gate and remove the oversized strut eyelet situated on the anchor bolt. Then you can remove the safety cable as well. Once this is done, your tailgate can be lowered to a resting position nice and carefully.
Remove the strut’s nut so that you can slide the strut off from the mounting bolt now that it is no longer attached to the hinge bracket of the tailgate.
Step 3 – Take off the bolts
Now you’re ready to prepare the tailgate for the installation of the new gas struts. Simply remove the bolts that are in place so that you can fully detach the safety cable of the tailgate from the car or trailer. Then remove the safety cable’s anchor bolt as well.
Step 4 – Remove the hinge bracket’s bolt
The next bolt that needs to be removed is the upper mounting bolt, the one on your tailgate’s hinge bracket. This has to be done before you’re able to put in new gas struts.
Step 5 – Install the two new bolts
Your new gas struts should come with two new bolts. To install the bolts, slide the smaller piston eyelet and secure it with a nut on the new hinge bracket mounting bolt.
You can now replace the safety cable on the tailgate, also securing this with the bigger eyelet with the same bolt. Correctly replaced, the cable should fold back up inside the strut. Be careful, or use a provided foam protection, to not damage the cable with the new gas strut being installed.
Whilst the first time you follow these steps, it’s worth going extra slowly and carefully, you’ll soon find that with practice you become a lot quicker.
Contact the Dunn and Watson team for all your gas strut related questions
Need some more assistance finding the right gas struts for your application? Or would you like some tailored guidance on how to replace tailgate gas struts? The Dunn and Watson team are always here to help so contact us today on 1300 210 549.
