[beer100]

My tonu has always lifted all the way up without assistance until this week. I have read many posts about others having probs. with that. Well....today I put silicone spray on a rag, rubbed down the rubber all around the bed, and voilla, the top pops up without assistance! Problem solved. You have to do it on a rag because the spray may damage the paint.

I'm under the impression that the biggest issue with silicon spray are the problems it creates, if an area that has been doused needs to be repainted.

Any one have a better read on this?

 

[beer100]

Well you guys got me curious. I just went out to my barn to check my 05 and it works everytime and it has the carpet kit attached. I even have the OEM air suppressor cover stored in the little storage compartment. Works like a charm. I've got to believe that every one is going to be different, age, temp, wieght etc. Also every cylinder has it's own characteristics which can complicate matters too. I have no way of checking but if there is a different part number for the 05 cylinders that would answer some of the questions. Just my 2 cents. :cheers JimO

JimO

Take a look at the cylinder itself. There should be labling that looks like the following. (taken from my 04)

STABILUS
LIFT-O-MATIC
high pressure
Do not open Do not heat
USA Gastonia
7932QF 0285N 045/04 B 21
VT11-0856
GM CHEVROLET


The portion I've highlighted in red is force the cylinder can supply.
What does yours say?

PS: 285 Newtons is about 65 pounds.

 

[beer100]

How do we test this to see if the cylinder is low? Does the dealership have to do this? I will check mine out in the morning!

Never thought about testing one. You could do that your self.
There is a metal clip at each end. Remove those and the strut can be pulled off.
Be sure the cover is propped up, one strut won't hold it up.

As to testing, just take any bathroom scale, non digital would be better, take the strut and with the shaft end down, push till the piston collapses, read the results.
I wouldn't consider a strut to be a piece of precision hardware. So don't be suprised if the measurement is off, unless it's way way off, like half.

No matter what it reads, if you lift the cover and it stays up GM won't likely replace the strut.

BTW the clips are easy enough to remove, but putting them back on is a pain. They pull off in the radial direction, but go back on by slipping them over the end.

 

[beer100]

Glenn - Just checked my cylinders on my 05. They have the same numbers except after the " 0285N " it reads 273/04 c27. Everything else is the same HUMMMMM??? :willy: JimO

Not sure what the extra numbers mean, might be lot/date code of some kind. But it isn't a stronger strut. I pretty sure the 7932QF number is the Stabilus part number but it's a special for GM. Not one of their regular stock items.

Stabilus makes that same strut with 300 350 and 400 Newtons force rating. I haven't found a place to buy a pair from yet. I think I'd try the 350 first.