Tailgate struts.. replacing clips

[catalyst.]

Has anyone replaced these struts on the tourings tailgate??

I have new struts but i cant figure out how these clips are supposed to work. I will get a pic if needed.

[Courtland525i]

I got the same problem on a 1995 BMW 525i Wagon. Ordered new L and R Shocks. They came without the Clips so I ordered them. They've arrived and I cannot figure out how they install into the Cup end of the Shock/Struts. Anyone know? Without them the Shocks pop right off of the Ball and the Tailgate tries to kill me.

[catalyst.]

Anyone anyone?

[Courtland525i]

Well, I'm going to take the new shocks off until I can figure out how to install the Safety Clips that hold the Cup end of the Shock/Strut/Piston onto the Ball. Otherwise the tailgate IS going to come crashing down on someone.

[laserblutouring]

theres a lock around the ball area of the strut. Loosen that first then pop it in. I can try to take pics but I don't know to upload on this site.

[Courtland525i]

Will have another go at it and let you know. Thanks!

[AquilaBMW]

Is this for the whole tailgate or just the Glass ?

[M Quick]

Well, I'm going to take the new shocks off until I can figure out how to install the Safety Clips that hold the Cup end of the Shock/Strut/Piston onto the Ball. Otherwise the tailgate IS going to come crashing down on someone.

They simply hook on. The C-shape goes on the "strut" with the pin that sticks out of that C-shaped clip goes into a little small hole into the cupholder on the strut.
Just look at the ones that are already installed on the car and you'll see. This is for the tailgate struts.

Don't know if the OP means struts for the opening glass part or the whole tailgate.


This (the opening glass):

Or this (whole tailgate):

[Courtland525i]

Got it done. This is for the Whole tailgate, not the opening glass window (which has it's own shocks/struts and I read somewhere that you need a special tool to get at this as it is concealed in the Roof of the Car. I do need new struts for the window but, one thing at a time.

Anyway. I ended up taking the struts/shocks off. The Main Body of the Shock is held on the Tailgate with a Torx 40 Machine Bolt and the Piston end has a cup which goes over the Ball fitting on the body of the car. I took off the Ball fitting as well. Once off the car I discovered that the Cup on the piston already has a "C" Ring inside a channel within the Cup. I didn't see this before and that is where my confusion started. Without knowing about the "C" Ring, I thought the Safety Clip somehow needed to wrap itself around the Ball Fitting. When I pressed the ball into the cup, it does snap in, but it doesn't hold and can pop out very easily. So the Safety Clips go on after the cup snaps onto the ball fitting. The safety clips are stainless steel and is basically a straight pin that goes into a small hole on the top cup fitting and passes through and out another hole in the bottom of the cup fitting. It then clips around the arm of the piston to hold it in place. I'll get some photos of this. In Miche's schematic above the "C" Ring is not shown. The Safety Clip is #8. Thaks everyone for your help. It is very much appreciated.

BTW, it is so much easier to fit the cup to the Ball fitting and put on the safety clip BEFORE securing the Piston Body to the Tailgate with the Torx Bolt. I had the Tailgate held open with a 6' 2 x 4.