Bentley Arnage Boot Struts

[BentleyGL]

Can anyone advise on the boot struts for a 1999 Arnage? In the car were struts made by Stabilius - "Lift-O-Mat". I have purchased 4 new struts from SGS Engineering (UK). They measure as near as I can tell 1.4 mm longer socket to socket. I can't get them to install. In fact even the Stabilius that I removed has now grown enough, in length, where I cannot get the 2nd socket back on the ball. I certainly cannot compress, by hand, the strut to make it fit. What I thought would be an easy job, has proven rather difficult! Does anyone know any tricks for this installation? Would some type of long screw clamp be appropriate to compress the strut enough where I could get it to slip onto the ball? Thanks for any thoughts. John

[t400ble]

Grease the ball?

[BentleyGL]

I did. The problem is the lip of the socket is just beyond the ball and it will not push on. I have changed a lot of struts before and never encountered this problem. As the boot lid is already fully extended, there is no more play to extend the arc.

[matt5791]

I too fitted this make as replacements on my own car ('96 Cont.R) - I dont have the car with me at the moment, but is there some clip you have to remove before fitting onto the ball? and then replace afterwards. My memory is a bit hazy.

[k20erham]

Hi the trick is put the struts on the boot lid, have a sturdy thick cable tie (10)mm wide pre joined to slightly smaller than your boot open length, put something in your boot and put the free end of the strut onto it then close the boot to compress the strut enough to get the cable tie on, strut is now not fully extended and will fit onto the free ball, remove the cable tie and repeat for the other side.

[BentleyGL]

k20erham said:

Hi the trick is put the struts on the boot lid, have a sturdy thick cable tie (10)mm wide pre joined to slightly smaller than your boot open length, put something in your boot and put the free end of the strut onto it then close the boot to compress the strut enough to get the cable tie on, strut is now not fully extended and will fit onto the free ball, remove the cable tie and repeat for the other side.

k20erham, Thanks for this advice. By cable tie do you mean a plastic electrical cable tie (or alternatively what is also called a cable wrap)? I am in the USA, and just want to make sure we are talking about the same thing. Currently the strut is about 5mm to long, so I don't need much compression. Regards, John

[k20erham]

I think they are called zip ties over there but yes they are made for securing cables, tubing, very quick cheap and easy to get hold of.

[BentleyGL]

Thanks, I understand. What did you to push against in the boot?

[BentleyGL]

that was "did you use to push against"

sorry for the typo