How do gas struts work?

Having trouble with a sagging boot or bonnet?

Gas struts are small but essential components in your car that make lifting your boot or bonnet much safer and easier.

Over time, gas struts may gradually lose pressure and will be unable to support the load of the bonnet or the boot. When this happens, they might gradually creep down or drop without warning. Squished fingers or head bumps are not uncommon!

To avoid any oopsies, make sure to read on for a guide to how gas struts work. We’ll cover failure symptoms, some simple testing methods and where to get replacements if you need them.

Natrad has a large range of quality Adrad gas struts backed by a 2-year warranty for peace of mind.

How do gas struts work?

Gas struts contain pressurised nitrogen, hence the name “gas” struts. The pressurised gas acts as a spring to help raise, lower and support heavy items such as a boot or bonnet.

Gas struts are also used for a range of different applications in the automotive industry and other industries as well. Today we’ll focus purely on bonnet and boot uses.

Struts are kind of odd-looking, with a thin shaft on one end and a casing on the other to allow expansion and contraction of the shaft. During opening and closing, the shaft retracts into the casing or extends depending on the motion e.g. up or down, open or closed.

See the image below for reference. The compressed gas offers a smooth and controlled way of releasing energy or creating lifting force without needing to do it ourselves.

Failure symptoms

Over time, gas struts are known to leak, resulting in a loss of pressure. Without it, the gas strut will not be able to hold the full weight of the boot or bonnet, or not hold it at all. This is when sudden drops and injuries can happen.

Usually getting to this point will take several years, and in this time the strut may simply be less effective. It may be slower to open or close, sag a little or feel heavier to lift the item without the help of the strut.

A good way to test whether the strut has insufficient gas is to open your boot or bonnet on a cold day. The cold temperature causes the gas to have less pressure, making it harder to output enough lifting force. If the boot or bonnet begins to drop after opening, sags or drops suddenly then the strut is probably nearing the end of its life.

Replacing your struts

If you’ve noticed your gas struts aren’t doing the job anymore, then it’s time to get them replaced. If you wait until they don’t work at all, you could be in for some serious trouble. In extreme cases, gas struts failing have caused significant injury.

So, where do you get new ones? Luckily, Natrad has a huge range of quality Adrad gas struts. Our range is suited to over 1100 vehicle applications so there’s sure to be a set that fit your needs.

Talk to your nearest Natrad workshop to find the right gas struts for you. We’ll even give you a 2-year warranty for extra peace of mind!