I've had the same struts on mine for eight years. Still charged enough to keep the hood lifted. The secret to these gas struts is to not scratch the rods. They all leak down eventually. I'll replace the struts when it's time. The minimalist Grimmspeed brackets are perfect.


Edit... I just figured out, once again, that I'm full of shit. A nick in the rod isn't the killer. Duh. It's breakdown of the internal seal.
https://www.stabilus.com/fileadmin/u...mping_e_02.jpg

Are there really direct replacements for the Grimmspeed struts? I like their brackets but want to paint the plastic part of their struts. If there are direct cheaper replacements I would like to paint them instead of the $140 ones [emoji16]

Would be great if you can share the information if available.

Thanks


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Of course there are. It's just a Stabilus Lift-o-mat. I'll cross that bridge when I need them.

Few companies reinvent the wheel only to sell it to a small market for less than $200 ea.

The real value add is in the elegant bracketry. Minimalism FTW. If I was a believer in strut tower braces, I'd choose only the Grimmspeed. All the bent ones with hinges and sheet metal doodads are bullshit. They have more give than the actual strain they are supposed to control.

Thanks for sharing the name. Any idea what length or part# I need to check for the Stabilus lift-o-mat? Are there any specs written on the Grimmspeed ones so I can check them when I order them.


Thanks again


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Nope. Like I said. Mine are still serviceable.

Google is your friend:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2251...apt=4itemAdapt

Thanks for the link. I also found several frs/brz compatible ones. I am gonna buy the Grimmspeed ones. Just need some struts compatible with grimmspeed brackets.

Thanks


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You mentioned painting them. I can't weigh in on that but you could buy a pair from your local store and try it - if nothing else just to get practice. They don't even have to fit.

No... I take back my own correction. The gas seal really is around the exposed rod. Here's how we know this. If the gas was to be compressed fully between the face of the piston and had nowhere to go, it would behave like a bicycle pump with a plugged hose. It's not a bicycle pump. It is able to collapse with only a small increase in extensive force at the collapsed position. The extensive force equals the internal pressure multiplied by the cross sectional area of the opening upon which it acts.

All the internal parts are at equilibrium. The cross sectional area to be considered is the area of the circle projected by the axial view of the rod.

I'm guessing no one cares about my ramblings here. I'm just keeping myself honest with stuff I say in general.

when in doubt, there's youtube, and a dude with zip ties and a rope..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNp5qmd650M

Yup. Bottom line - don't scratch the rods.

I thought that was only on YouTube After Dark.