Rear tailgate Struts

[Meccles]

I have a late L320 (Jan 2013) with single tailgate and electric struts. Car has 110k on it. Left strut jumped off ball to body bracket a few weeks back. Stru works fine so didn't want to replace that. $550 ish genuine or $220 fleabay. However it was working so thought perhaps spring steel retaining clip had failed. Found on another forum a bloke who replaced the bracket that bolts to body with balljoint on it - its quite cheap - around $50. Said they wear. Well - mine had. Swapped out bracket refitted spring steel retaining clip ( simple when worked out how) and voila shes back in business.175521
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175523

[ontheway]

I have a late L320 (Jan 2013) with single tailgate and electric struts. . Found on another forum a bloke who replaced the bracket that bolts to body with balljoint on it - its quite cheap - around $50. Said they wear. Well - mine had. Swapped out bracket refitted spring steel retaining clip ( simple when worked out how) and voila shes back in business.

I think you may be my split personality. My strut popped off last week. I bought a new bracket from the dealer for $28 so you got a good deal. Works fine with some grease. Car has done 113km. The joint was dry and it failed after a lot of rain so keeping it lubricate helps but the damage to the ball was much worse than these photos - one side was completely missing.

I have replaced the left strut due earlier and the ball joint was fine. The right one still feels obstructed and upon checking is already damaging the ball joint. I did clean out the strut socket carefully. Anyway, should last until I need a new strut:)

[haydent]

Ive been tempted to look into possibility of adding the struts to my non electric 2 door version, but $400 even off ebay seems a bit much when it might not work out....