You can either replace them or use the PVC pipe trick.  (Search the archives
for the details - I think another List member also has something on their
web site about it).

I bought new ones from TBD about 18 months ago and they still will hold the
hatch open with a Paulchen rack attached to the back.  (Make the hatch a
little more difficult to close without the rack, though)

Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
Santa Barbara, CA

----- Original Message -----
From: "K. Taylor" <ktaylor@premier1.net>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2000 2:06 PM
Subject: rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped working

> The back hatch struts on my '90 Westy stopped holding the hatch up
> yesterday.  It seems like they went from 'working 100%' to not working at
> all in one step.  Is this characteristic of struts that have stopped
> working?  Is there any adjustment fixes, or do they simply need to be
> replaced?