Goodaye all, am needing new struts for tailgate and am wondering if the cheapy ones on ebay are worth while getting or go for something more expensive. These are the one I looked at. Be thankful for any input.
Cheers,harry

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/131361053879?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I bought some cheap-ish ones (not that cheap) off ebay and 5 years on they are just starting to lose their *erection* :-)

I think the real factory ones might last 50% longer? and cost?

Hey there, thanks for replying. I got a pair from auto barn today, $50 for pair, they normally sell em for 70, but as I was buying a lot of stuff they did em for 50. I figured that $20 for a pair would probably last for $20 worth of time, not real long, and I don't want the gate to fall on my head again, it hurts, and made my flash plastic teeth fall out :)
Cheers
Harry

I don't want the gate to fall on my head again, it hurts,

I hear you Harry, I finally cracked and bought new ones when the tail gate clocked me so bad on the head I ended up on my ass on the ground seeing stars, the old ones were I'm sure possessed, they would stay up - but when you weren't looking - BAM!

You don't realize how heavy those tailgates are until you become the strut....

You don't realize how heavy those tailgates are until you become the strut....

I hear you - my other car is a Jaguar XJ-S - that huge bonnet also leaves a dent in you head when the struts fail... Yep - 2 cars - two skull dents....

Piece of broomstick, peoples... avoid headaches if possible :P

I love old Jags. They know you'll be under the bonnet so often they even install a nice light for you in there!

Well I don't know. I have bought the $19 struts for the past several years and so far, none have failed, the oldest of them holding up a VT bonnet with no signs of imminent failure. In fact, I release the bonnet and lift it about 200mm and the struts lift it into the fully raised position with no further help from me.
As to maker, aren't they all made in china? For about $3 a pair and we are paying parts retailers in Aus up to $50 depending on which makers name is stamped on them.

Piece of broomstick, peoples... avoid headaches if possible :P

I love old Jags. They know you'll be under the bonnet so often they even install a nice light for you in there!

Your love of old Jags is often tested by their foibles, 2nd hand holden VT struts hold up the HUGE bonnet on the XJ-S so well after 6 inches of opening it springs up to max opening with vigor, so I expect the VT struts were vastly over engineered for the car, If they fitted the magna wagon gate I'd put them on there too.

Hey bb, have you looked at the VT tailgate struts? They might fit. But if you can get new after market ones designed for the Magna for $19 to $29, why bother with VT ones?
here's a link to a $28 set. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MITSUBISHI-MAGNA-WAGON-TAILGATE-GAS-STRUTS-Brand-New-Pair-/191552283488?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item2c9967e360
I have to say that the next ad selling the same thing was asking $50.

Hey bb, have you looked at the VT tailgate struts?

Yeah dont fit. I think if they did when you poped the tail gate the thing would slam onto the roof! :-)

My ebay specials are still going 5+ years on - just starting to get slow as the weather cools so probably need to replace in the net year or so.