or lift gate support cylinder as Ford calls it check #5 on this link (http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getLocator&siteid=214072&chapter=DR2MT99&appSectionid=4486&groupid=51911&subgroupid=2393&componentid=0&make=10&model=Windstar&year=2000&graphicID=MT99195&callout=5&catalogid=2)... Is there any adjustment maintenance or repair that could be done to it? Mine make a loud thump and screech sound and also skip when the go up, but sound ok when they come down. Seem to be an expensive part to replace and hard to find aswell.

Ed, Have you tried Autozone. I just bought some hood struts for my sons Maxima there. I think they were called Mighty-Struts. $20 each and they worked great. Autozone had a pretty good variety of gas struts right out on the floor.