]From vanagon@lenti.med.umn.edu  Sat Apr  9 22:23:00 1994
]From: jgladu@bcm.tmc.edu (John Gladu)
]
]
]I got the locking-side model at Apec, here in Houston.  I just called him
]about this - he didn't even understand what "mail-order" meant, but upon
]explanation he said he could do that.  He only stocks the "locking" model.
]Our local dealer was asking about $65 for this strut, and I Jorg has it for
]under $30.
]
]Apec Foreign Parts Inc.
]727 Yale
]Houston, TX 77007
]
](713) 880-0988
]The guy who works the counter's name is Jorg (pronounced "Yorg" - he'll
]take your order in German, if you'd like :-).
]
]>  The first time I replaced one, the parts guy asked me
]>  if it was right or left side! They appear identical,
]>  so I pulled both off and held the tailgate up with my
]>  head while I "tested" each strut to identify the
]>  weaker one (at that price I didn't want to replace both
]>  since the gate was just sagging slowly).
]
]The left and right struts are different.  The right strut has a "locking"
]feature in its valve mechanism.  Apparently, that is some kind of
]mechanical lock that you can defeat by pulling down on the hatch, but
]strong enough to hold the hatch up -> while taking the load off the
]pressurized part of the strut.

Is there any reason not to use the locking type on both sides?  I see that
your source there in Houston only carries the locking one, which kinda im-
plies that they don't see a need to carry the other kind.  I'm 'bout due to
replace mine (the Pep Boys ones on there now only lasted a year) and would
just as soon put the same on both sides if there's no reason not to.  I
could pick up a pair at Apec the next time I'm in Houston (about four weeks
from now).  If I recall correctly from the last time I replaced these, they
looked identical, even though they were marked "left" and "right".  I can't
recall Pep Boys' price (although I could look it up if anyone is interested
for comparison), but I sure can't recommend them.

-- 
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Jerry Dunham, MSE          hoosier@rider.cactus.org           (512)244-8598
Tandem Computers, Inc.                                dunham@mpd.tandem.com
Integrity Systems Division                          dunham_jerry@tandem.com

  "A healthy male adult bore consumes each year one-and-a-half times his
   own weight in other people's patience."

			        - J. Updike