Thank you, Ron!  That was an excellent description and exactly what I was
looking for.

Aloha!

Mick
89 Syncro Westy "Daddeo"
Hilo, Hawaii

----- Original Message -----
From: The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2001 1:05 AM
Subject: Re: rear hatch struts

> > can someone enlighten me on the best replacement for the worn out oem
> struts.
> > I have had the heavy duty ones... it has been mentioned, and rightfully
so
> that they
> > are extremely stiff... but I rather liked them on my 88 wolfie.  Those
> suckers would
> > keep that door exactly where I left it every time.  But I remember
someone
> mentioning
> > putting one heavy duty and one oem strut on the hatch.  Hence,
mitigating
> the
> > difficulty of opening and closing the hatch.  From looking at the BD
parts
> list it
> > appears that they are sold singly, making the one-of-each idea feasible.
> True?
> > So, is this a good idea... bad idea?
>
>
> Yes, you can buy one of each, and indeed this was VW's original
> configuration; weaker one on left, stronger on right. Advantage is that
yes,
> it gives you a middle ground between lifespan and ease of closing the
hatch.
> Disadvantage is the "lifespan" half of the compromise. The uneven
> configuration tends to put a bit more strain on the struts so they tend to
> blow out sooner. Still preferable to using too weaker ones, though, in my
> opinion, or replacing just one side, either of which is likely to result
in
> your hatch starting to sag in no time.
>
> - Ron Salmon
>   The Bus Depot, Inc.
>   www.busdepot.com
>   (215) 234-VWVW
>