Gas Shocks for Hatchback Door - Faulty?

[freesiagirl]

I just purchased my 1994 Geo Metro Hatchback, 4 Door, 5 Speed, WITH AIR!! Last Week! The back hatch door wouldn't stay up at all. I went to a junkyard that had a 1992 Hatchback, and got a few misc. parts. The shocks on that car worked great on the car, so I purchased them and brought them home, but they won't hold my door up. What did I do wrong? Any suggestions appreciated!

[91Caprice9c1]

You simply picked up a bad pair of shocks. Go get some new ones. Or maybe take your hatch apart and see where the previous owner sneekily placed large bricks of lead as a prank!

-MechanicMatt

[freesiagirl]

Thanks, again! OK, but what I don't understand, is why they worked on the car that I took them off of, the day before??

[Syndrome Zed]

I've had the same problem. I found a pair of shocks for the hatch in a junker that held the hatch up with no problem, but couldn't hold mine up at all. The only two things I could think of that might cause a problem were loose or slack hinges that let the hatch put too much torque on the shocks, or the fact that I found a ton of broken safety glass and some other tweaks inside the hatch that suggested the car had been rear-ended , and for some reason the rear-ending (or the fix) had left the hatch unable to stay open. The previous owner seemed to have the problem too, since I found a slide-on lever that clamps to the shock and can be unclamped with one hand - when clamped, it won't slide on the shock and holds up the hatch.

I'd say try one more pair of shocks, and then if they don't work see if you can find one of those clamp-on gadgets.

[DOCTORBILL]

I have had that same problem with my '93 Metro and my '91 Jeep Cherokkee.

They usually work fine if it is hot out, but poop out when it is cold.

New Schuck's Gas Shocks cost about $40 each one!

Pull-n-Save shocks are a gamble....

Why do they fail? Do the use "O-Rings"?

Not repairable, I assume.

I have taken to carrying an old Broom Handle of the appropriate length in the
back and just prop the hatch open with that.

Zip cost - works in any weather, won't fall on your head or hands.

DoctorBill .... (AKA - El Cheapo Ritzo)

[freesiagirl]

Hmmm... Well, my car was rear-ended at some point.... So, I suppose something could have been damaged there... Also, the car that I took the shocks off of was a 2 door, mine is a 4 door. Are the 4 door hatches heavier perhaps??

[freesiagirl]

If I go out and buy new shocks from the parts store, should those work? Where can I get one of those clamp-on things?