> I start with one new medium strength one, then test each
> strut individually on the van, and replace the weaker one.

As a general rule, I HIGHLY recommend replacing hatch struts in pairs, and
not mixing an old and a new strut.  If the used one is not performing up to
par (which is often the case), it makes the new one do most of the work,
causing that one to weaken (if not fail) prematurely. So you end up in a
viscous cycle, replacing one strut at a time much more frequently than if
you simply replaced both at once.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215)  234-VWVW

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