I'm pretty sure the struts on my van are offerring no assistance at all. If
you had lifted a rear hatch like mine you'd know that you wouldn't need a
strut to help close the hatch.

Now, just think how hard it would be to open a hatch of that weight with two
struts designed to help close the thing! You'd never get it to open - let
alone stay up!!

Your PO probably picked up a strut from a boneyard without care as to which
side it was designed (I didn't know of the two part numbers) - a more likely
reason for "premature" failure.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Alofs" <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 10:58 PM
Subject: Re: Rear hatch struts revisted. Why do they fail?

> developtrust wrote:
> >
> > 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
>
> I think that parts person should go back to selling french fries.