Rear liftgate shockstruts on '03 XLT

[skytrucker]

so i've worn out the search and can't seem to find anything about this.
does anyone else's rear liftgate struts seem to help more in closing the hatch than opening it? this is the 3rd set of lifters i've put on, and the factory ones worked as required, but since then the last 2 sets (both ford- bought @ stealership) have seemed to slam the door shut, and require extra effort to open it.

before you tell me i've got them on backwards, they CAN'T be cause they extend to open the door and retract to close, end-to-end placement doesn't matter, but to be sure i've tried them both w/ the cylinder up, and the piston end up....just incase!

thanx in advance for your help/ suggestions.

 

[Nytroman]

thats how my liftgate is, a little tougher opening then closing, but that is normal. i believe it to actually help on windy days so your hatch doesnt fly up and rip right off the truck, and to stop it from hitting yourself.

 

[rrgone]

Hi skytrucker, welcome aboard.

I'd like to put new struts on mine too. When my 2002 was new and I hit the blue button on the fob the liftgate would open all the way up on it's own. Now I just get the latch to release, it does not swing up without some help. Hope someone has some ideas on replacements.

 

[rrgone]

thats how my liftgate is, a little tougher opening then closing, but that is normal. i believe it to actually help on windy days so your hatch doesnt fly up and rip right off the truck, and to stop it from hitting yourself.

Hmmm. Maybe, but I think the struts should open the hatch all the way up in a controlled fashion. Mine did when new.

 

[shadowless127]

Hi skytrucker, welcome aboard.

I'd like to put new struts on mine too. When my 2002 was new and I hit the blue button on the fob the liftgate would open all the way up on it's own. Now I just get the latch to release, it does not swing up without some help. Hope someone has some ideas on replacements.

mine doesnt pop all the way up, i never realized that was a feature.

 

[skytrucker]

it's not that i want or need the liftgate to open "automatically" but right now, it takes some serious effort to pull it open, and you have to push it all the way up to the stops or it will close down on you, all the while you're opening it against the shock/strut lifters. this is the main door, not just the glass. it's almost worse than having no lifters at all, cuz atleast then you'd only be working against gravity. but once its open, it'll stay open, so i know the struts aren't just defective....
i'll definitly let you guys know if I fix it...
keep the ideas comming!!

 

[Nytroman]

maybe try to grease the hinge on the hatch, some white lithium grease

 

[Donner]

Check the part number too and make sure you are getting the correct shocks; and the hinges, as mentioned by Nytroman, might need a lube or might need to be adjusted or chucked...

 

[rrgone]

it's not that i want or need the liftgate to open "automatically" but right now, it takes some serious effort to pull it open, and you have to push it all the way up to the stops or it will close down on you, all the while you're opening it against the shock/strut lifters. this is the main door, not just the glass. it's almost worse than having no lifters at all, cuz atleast then you'd only be working against gravity. but once its open, it'll stay open, so i know the struts aren't just defective....
i'll definitly let you guys know if I fix it...
keep the ideas comming!!

Ok, I thought it was the liftgate glass you were talking about. On my liftgate door, once I pull the latch open and pull the door up about a foot or so it will go up the rest of the way itself and then stay up. So both my liftgate glass and door will go up on their own once you get them started.

I looked at the struts on the door and the part number (might be the engineering number) is RH: 1L24-78406A10-AF and LH: 1L24-78406A11-AG. Hope this helps.

 

[Donner]

It appears the larger door's struts/shocks can be installed improperly. There is an arrow on the shock of the larger door instructing the installer - On the larger door, the thicker end of the shock should be at the top...

 

[shadowless127]

Ok, I thought it was the liftgate glass you were talking about. On my liftgate door, once I pull the latch open and pull the door up about a foot or so it will go up the rest of the way itself and then stay up. So both my liftgate glass and door will go up on their own once you get them started.

I looked at the struts on the door and the part number (might be the engineering number) is RH: 1L24-78406A10-AF and LH: 1L24-78406A11-AG. Hope this helps.

I too thought we were talking about the liftgate GLASS. Both my glass and liftgate go up all the way on there own once you get them started.

 

[rrgone]

I just found 4 ebay sellers using search terms 'ford explorer liftgate strut'. Don't know what dealers charge but looks like you can get 'em for about $30 over there. I put new struts on the hood of wife's Lexus and got 'em off ebay. They work great but I don't remember which seller I used.

Since you've changed yours out already with no joy perhaps you are indeed looking at corroded or dirty hinge pins. Or the whole damn thing might be out of alignment and binding up? Doesn't really sound like that though from your descriptions.