ETKA shows just what you say. For certain VINs it uses a single part number
for both. For another set, it uses two different numbers, one for the left,
one for the right.

Seems strange to me.

Bradley Flubacher
State College, PA
'81 diesel rabbit
'82 diesel westy
'82 diesel van
'84 GL wasserboxer

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of developtrust
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 10:42 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Rear hatch struts revisted. Why do they fail?

I replaced my rear hatch struts today with the stock VW struts part #s
251 829 331A for the left
 and 251 829 332 for the right

I discovered that only one of the struts on my van was defective. The
previous owner put the right side strut on both sides. The left one failed.

I was told by the parts person that one strut is for opening and one is for
closing and that the right one is a bit stronger and is why it costs more.

I am wondering if the reason the left strut failed is due to it being the
wrong strut; that is, made for closing rather than opening the hatch.

Does anyone know for sure or if it matters at all?

William Polowniak
1989 Vanagon GL
1988 Mercedes 300 SE