P38 Rear Tailgate Gas Struts Removal & Refitting

Hi all,
Just a quick bit of advice required please if anybody can assist.
I need to replace the rear tailgate gas struts on my 1998, P38 2.5 DSE.
I have the new pair ready to be fitted but want to know if there is a special technique required for changing them or any special tools required.
I'm looking at the new ones and it appears to be a plastic ball socket either end with some sort of metal clip.
Any advice would be great please as I don't want to end up snapping something through my error.
Thanks Guys & dolls in advance

Tools needed:-
1 flat blade screw driver
2 broom handle

prop tailgate with broom handle. shove screwdriver under meal clip and prize off.put a bit of copper grease in the sockets on the new strut and push onto ball. You might have to prize the metal clip up a bit to get them on.
Hth

yu missed the "spend an hour trying to find metal clip"

Too true. put your hand over metal clip and catch it

Thanks all for your advice, will have a go tomorrow.

The ball joints just pop out and bang back in. It must be p1ss easy because I managed it without reference to anything. I am thick and deal with paperwork.

G~

I just unscrewed the ends and refitted without having to take the ends off.

It's a nice jod that stops the tailgate coming down on your head and making you irritable!

stemac33 said:

prop tailgate with broom handle.

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This bit is quite important, holding it up with your head while you change the struts is a bit fiddly and I'm now a few cm's shorter!

Best place to buy these? Anywhere better than Island 4x4?

Here's a handy video on the process. He's speaking Merkin, but I think you'll understand the important stuff.

Tailgate Strut Replacement: Instructions for Range Rover P38 - YouTube

TCubed said:

Best place to buy these? Anywhere better than Island 4x4?

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B&Q is good for broom handles.
Island 4x4 or fleabay for struts (I went with Island 4x4 - not expensive).

This is who I used...

RANGE ROVER P38 TAILGATE GAS STRUTS (TWO) - wapsipurtlandrover

(No affiliation)

Thanks Saint

Out of interest, anyone know the expected lifetime of these? Will mine be originals from 11 years ago?

TCubed said:

Thanks Saint

Out of interest, anyone know the expected lifetime of these? Will mine be originals from 11 years ago?

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No doubt original....my 9 year old L322 tail gate strust still work but are getting weaker....

TCubed said:

Thanks Saint

Out of interest, anyone know the expected lifetime of these? Will mine be originals from 11 years ago?

Click to expand...

Good ones will last 10 to 15 years depending on amount of use, Land Rover ones as long as the warranty

Struts ha I replaced the whole tailgate with struts for 50 quid mind you my youngest broke the rear windscreen in the original but a nice cheap easy fix

Replaced mine with struts from island 4x4. I cant say i noticed any big improvement though. Is the tailgate supposed to lift on its own once released, i still have to manually lift mine with the new struts? They just stopped it dropping down on my head all the time.

martynv8 said:

Replaced mine with struts from island 4x4. I cant say i noticed any big improvement though. Is the tailgate supposed to lift on its own once released, i still have to manually lift mine with the new struts? They just stopped it dropping down on my head all the time.

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You are supposed to lift it you lazy bugger

martynv8 said:

Replaced mine with struts from island 4x4. I cant say i noticed any big improvement though. Is the tailgate supposed to lift on its own once released, i still have to manually lift mine with the new struts? They just stopped it dropping down on my head all the time.

Click to expand...

I'll have yer old struts! Sounds like they were ok.
With new struts fitted it should automatically glide up, load your shopping, and heat your seats in winter.