The bonnet on my car has become a hazard, as it sometimes does not stay up. I want to replace the gas struts and have a few questions. First thought was to get struts from Rock Auto, as I have relatives who can bring them over to Australia for me. Rock Auto lists bonnet struts, but not for my model, which is 2002 TJ 3.5 Advance sedan. Does anyone know if the TL/TW/KL/KW have same struts as TJ. I can't see why the VRX would use different struts, but Rock Auto lists specifically for the VRX. Also can't see why struts are listed as R and L. Would have thought struts can go on left or right side. Does anyone know if the Strongarm or Rhinopac 4163 struts will fit TJ? Alternatively has anyone had struts re-gassed. New struts are available for about $40 each in Austalia, so perhaps not worth ahving old ones regassed??

Have tried many of the aftermarket units over the years and to date not found one that fits

I just put 2 on mine from struts Australia, no probs $101 delivered. A bit dearer than ebay but at least they are Australian and they fitted. Have a look at some of the negative feedback on some of them !!
http://www.strutsaustralia.com.au/auto-struts/mitsubishi

Does anyone know if the TL/TW/KL/KW have same struts as TJ?

They are. I have 2nd hand TL struts on mine at the moment.

They are normally not a wear item (unlike the tailgate struts on the second gen) so visiting the wreckers with a 12 mm (?) spanner may help.

They are normally not a wear item (unlike the tailgate struts on the second gen) so visiting the wreckers with a 12 mm (?) spanner may help.

Crap max, I sell so many used ones here as well as new OEM ones so if they are not a wear item you might want to tell my mechanics here who have been smacked in the head by various bonnets on customers cars when they have come crashing down thus why we us locks on struts these days for safety........

They are, as said above a wear item. That is the reason I am reluctant to get from wreckers and not so sure about having mine re-gassed. Thanks for the replies. Two questions - Ammerty do the TL struts work well on your TJ and Mal how much for new OE struts?

Ammerty do the TL struts work well on your TJ?

No better or worse than TJ items. The OE part number is the same from TJ-TW, in fact.

Well, I would start at the wreckers. Bound to be a good pair there. (perhaps)

. . . but then I'm a cheapskate. lol

Well, I would start at the wreckers. Bound to be a good pair there. (perhaps)

. . . but then I'm a cheapskate. lol

Make sure you check them on an ice cold morning then, cause that's when you notice them starting to fail.....may work fine when the temps up.....definitely not worth getting 2nd hand.:D

Make sure you check them on an ice cold morning then, cause that's when you notice them starting to fail.....may work fine when the temps up.....definitely not worth getting 2nd hand.:D

I know about that from the NEW struts I bought for my TS wagon tailgate. Needed a stick to prop it up in winter so it wouldn't come down on my head. lol

If I needed bonnet struts, I'd go to the wreckers on a cold winter morning, perfect to see which ones work. lol Local wreckers have the bonnets up anyway, just pick a pair that stayed up overnight. lol

Dickie,
you are in luck.
Car makers dont make gas struts; they buy them from a gas strut maker. That means there is no possibility that you wont get one from a gas strut maker.
Have recently gone through this stuff with a set of struts for a LandCruiser. Had the same sort of "no they're not available blah blah blah"
After getting hit on the head a few times when trying to jump start the tractor, I got the shits and got on to the net and found (I think) Gas struts Australia about 40 K down the road. There were cheap ones and expensive ones and I took the 'expensive ones' cos they were recommended for the Land cruiser. I think about 100 bucks each. The ones I bought were a larger rod diameter than the original; this may be why you cant get original ones; they were built down to a price.
Dont bother about the wrecker; just buy new.
Rumpfy

Just a follow up:
Bought from 'Struts Australia'; a K430-18-180 kit set (strut, balls, brackets, nuts) all up cost for two struts 80 dollars plus GST equals $88 total.
rumpfy

Went to repco, asked for bonnet struts for a tj magna. Received struts and fitting kit, paid $40. Fitted. Problem fixed. Wreckers are all shit, the bonnets are constantly opened/closed and left open most of the time. There is never a good pair there. Or get them regassed.

If they are that cheap new, I will skip visiting the wreckers. Thought they would be more than that.