I've seen the occasional reference to this. My 1997 gas strut does not have the button which allows extension. I'm wondering if this was just for later models and is so whether there was a hinge modification as well. If the hinge was not modified maybe I can use the appropriate extending gas strut, which no doubt has a different part number to mine (A 170 880 02 29). If anyone can let me have the part no for the extra extension strut and comments on the hinge I'd be grateful.
Well there is a very good chance it has been replaced in view of the age of the car, and if by the PO he will have taken a cheap route. I think I'll see if the local MB spares guy has one and have a looksee.
The video explained a lot by the way!!! Not many broken SLKs where I live in Finland unfortunately;-)
I think I've almost solved the mystery. According to another website, Crossfire I think it was, the gas spring was originally made by Stabilus. If I put the MB part no into the Autodoc app, a whole load of parts come up, including Stabilus. They are all about half the price of the Stabilus product, which also is shown with a red button on the end. So I'm guessing most people replace with a non extending version.
The red button itself doesn't mean that the item I'm looking at is what Stabilus describe as telescoping because they also make a locking version with red button so I'll have to dig a bit deeper when I have time.
Further info:-
The Stabilus 529393 includes what they call a protection tube which is what is missing on my car. It's not actually a telescoping unit as such.
Actually Dave, I did have a look at the writing on the damper. It is in fact a Stabilus unit, just the wrong one!!! I'll put it with the rest of the curios I've found in the car, including a1974 pfennig and an empty bottle of beer from under a seat.
It's worth noting that the guy in the video isn't entirely correct @ 7mins where he states that there are two holes depending on which vehicle you have .. umm .. No that's not why there are two holes.
When it's all in place on the car, you press the button to release the strut from the top hole (standard position), raise the bonnet again until the button pops up into the bottom hole to lock it into the 90° service position. This is why the plastic housing has two holes and why it's called an extender
And of course if it is in the extended position and the damper fails it will only drop so far, which is why Stabilus call it a safety tube. The other strut they do which lists for the r170 also has a locking device at the end of the rod, but no tube.
Because the original part was damper and tube together I think. To repair, one could either buy a complete replacement or an "insert" is my guess. It would be interesting I suppose to see what MB would actually supply against the epc part no. Stabilus offer two options as I mentioned and I think when I was going through all the other suppliers options that some were without a fitting on the top, ie just a screw thread, and some had an eye.
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