Midas Cars Forum - www.midascarsforum.com

Hi all
has anybody managed to source a pair of gas rams that, when closed, do NOT constantly push against the glass i.e. the rams go into the low pressure zone?

At the moment I am struggling to keep the glass properly aligned in the hatch because of this constant pressure, which seems to be stronger on the offside, pushing the glass towards the rear.

I cannot be the first person to ask this question so hopefully there is a ready answer...apologies if there is a huge thread already, if so, please point me to it

Many thanks

Dave

I've just replaced my 27-year-old struts with a pair from Gas Strut Engineering of Bedford. They're 80 Newtons and seem perfectly satisfactory.

Geoff Butcher wrote:I've just replaced my 27-year-old struts with a pair from Gas Strut Engineering of Bedford. They're 80 Newtons and seem perfectly satisfactory.

thank you Geoff, as mine are the same vintage I guess I will do the same

I have discovered however that there is NO low pressure zone in the closed position, so maybe the originals are just a tad too strong?

Dave

I've heard of people using 130N, but 80N is plenty strong enough.

Geoff Butcher wrote:I've heard of people using 130N, but 80N is plenty strong enough.

130 N!! you could use those as coil overs ( rear suspension)on a Midas as it has so little weight at the back!!!

Alan

130 newtons is 29.2 pounds Alan.

Stuart wrote:130 newtons is 29.2 pounds Alan.

Two a side would do!!!!

Alan

I spoke to an expert from a company that makes gas rams for tailgates...and he told me that my view was incorrect !

gas rams do not have a low pressure zone when closed, in fact the pressure is at its highest when closed....no wonder our glass hatches are trying to creep downhill all the time.

80N rams are just strong enough to hold the hatch open, so I guess I am sticking with them...or cutting down the broom handle !

If the struts are only just strong enough in the warm weather, they may not be in the colder weather.
It's the Combined Gas Law: P1 x V1 over T1 equals P2 x V2 over T2 for a fixed volume of gas. I have had one or two older cars where the struts were OK in the warmer weather, but not quite in the winter.

interesting Ben....I think I will leave well alone !!

Now I have a sunroof fitted, I seem to be mostly glass above the waistline !!