StrongArm 4286 Gas Charged Lift Supports review

[oly4runner]

Excellent writeup! I just purchased a pair of these StrongArm 4286 on Amazon. I have the same issue shown in your second video. When the parts come in, I'm going to first try to remove the clips and not fiddle with the screws and brackets and see how that goes. I slammed my head :redbrick: last night thinking my liftgate was all the way up (it f*kin hurt) and lead me to this purchase.

 

[oly4runner]

However, on the second I just popped the c-clips and swapped shocks on the truck. It saved a bit of time, and I don't think there was a downside.

This was a good tip! I only had to remove the C clips (no unbolting anything) and use a little mallet and screwdriver to tap out the pins. You NEED to people to do this, one to lift the gate up to get the holes to align straight to get the pins back in.

I installed the strongarms like the OP and they work great. Speed is medium then slow just like the OEM and extends all the way up but not fast where you might get hit.

 

[tinman]

i just installed the monroe shocks and they slow down near the top.
they aren't full power all the way up.
i think it's a function of the weight of the door, not the design of the shock.

Will the Monroe shocks push the door all the way up, even with the back window down? I wasn't too impressed by the StrongArm shocks stopping about 3/4 of the way up when the window is down. (in buish's 2nd video)

I realize you probably aren't supposed to open the hatch with the window down, but if I'm spending in the neighborhood of $50 for hatch shocks, I'd like them to lift all the way up EVERY time...know what I mean?

TIA if anyone knows...

 

[Socco]

Heres my two bits on this one:

To the OP, good write up and it gets the job done but...

I swapped out my OEs with StrongArms with one small flathead screwdriver and no props or a 2nd man. It took about 5 minutes.

The StrongArms have had no problem lifting the tailgate all the way to full stop, when the glass is up. If the glass is down, I've always just reached in anyways. :shrug:

 

[oly4runner]

Heres my two bits on this one:

I swapped out my OEs with StrongArms with one small flathead screwdriver and no props or a 2nd man. It took about 5 minutes.

5 minutes? Then you have some talent my friend! Took me a good 30-45 minutes and during my frustration I needed a 2nd guy to help me push up the liftgate up more while I insert the bottom pins and secure with the clips. I took my time on the metal C clips because they looked so thin they might bend or break. I used a mallet and screwdriver to drive the pin out since mine was wedged in there pretty well with all the old grease and dried up nastiness.

Yes, the Strongarm flaw is that it does not lift the liftgate in the full position IF the back glass window is powered down all the way. this is not a deal breaker for me, but may be to others! I'm very happy with the way it all turned out and not having to pay out the nose to have a dealer do it and charge an arm/leg for the OEM parts.

 

[matt.kelley74]

Also ordered Strongarm. Got one installed and it will lift the gate by itself but did it out in the front drive and lost a c-clip in the process for the other one. Does anyone know what size these are and where to get new ones?

 

[Ron Helmuth]

Harbor Freight sells those C clips Matt

probably get a lifetime supply for like $6-of course you only need the one.

Take a strong magnet out to the driveway and I bet you could find it...

 

[garrett1478]

I just replaced mine with strongarm 6815 supports, the version with added lifting force over OEM.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W8QBA30/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I removed the clips and left the brackets in place. Use an e-clip remover/installer tool like this and it makes it super easy:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W94UEQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ETA: the plastic bushings on mine were falling apart, so I used a nylon spacer as shown in these threads:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...placed-their-lift-supports-rear-tailgate.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/190644-rear-lift-strut-bushing-fix-$1-15-a.html

 

[4Runnin2000]

I just went ahead and only undid the clips on each one and didn't have any real problems.

This is what I did also. No need to take the brackets off. I used the Monroes. 26 bucks on Rockauto. Goes almost all way up with glass down. Maybe 4 inches from fully extending but nothing like the video of the strong arms. That looked like my oem ones I took off. Good write up though

 

[infamousRNR]

got a question!

i have deadener all over the hatch of my truck so its much heavier, i have to push it up to fully open but the best part is that mines doesnt sound as bad as everyone elses where it falls on their heads..

when you ordered the shocks or first started looking for them, did you search by length?
maybe ill invest in some shocks but i might need a little more punch to mines.

I have a similar situation and I'm wondering if their are some lifts with a higher weight rating

 

[garrett1478]

I have a similar situation and I'm wondering if their are some lifts with a higher weight rating

See my post from 6 hours ago.

 

[T4R2014]

I just replaced mine with strongarm 6815 supports, the version with added lifting force over OEM.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W8QBA30/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I removed the clips and left the brackets in place. Use an e-clip remover/installer tool like this and it makes it super easy:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W94UEQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Do they open a little fast if you don't have any extra weight in the tailgate(like sound deadener)?

I got the regular StrongArms in fall of 2009. I wasn't really impressed with them over the OEM struts, although here they are going 7 years strong with no signs of diminished performance.

 

[garrett1478]

Do they open a little fast if you don't have any extra weight in the tailgate(like sound deadener)?

I got the regular StrongArms in fall of 2009. I wasn't really impressed with them over the OEM struts, although here they are going 7 years strong with no signs of diminished performance.

I guess they open fast. Hard to quantify, these replaced the 18 year old originals which wouldn't open all the way, and not hold it up with the window down.

Now with the window down it opens completely with no hesitation.

Only downside is that it takes more effort to close, but that doesn't bother me.

 

[jgd99]

Sorry to revive this thread but I just ordered the Strong Arm 4286 supports from Amazon. Ran me around $44 and free shipping. Will see if they comply with my needs when they come in.

https://www.amazon.com/Liftgate-Sup...qid=1486245770&sr=8-1&keywords=strongarm+4286

 

[Renegade_Medic]

Sorry to revive this thread but I just ordered the Strong Arm 4286 supports from Amazon. Ran me around $44 and free shipping. Will see if they comply with my needs when they come in.

https://www.amazon.com/Liftgate-Sup...qid=1486245770&sr=8-1&keywords=strongarm+4286

I installed these same ones a couple weeks ago. Only issue I ran into is that they are both for the Passenger side. One the driver side, I attached the top one and used a screw driver through the bottom mounting bolt and used it as a lever to rotate the bottom mount into the right position. Get a pair of vise grips and use them on the shaft of the other side if you dont have a ladder handy. I did the pair by my self in probably 10 minutes. It's easy, just watch the C clips, I didn't take off my mounts, just pressed the liftgate higher than it is supposed to go.

 

[TheDurk]

I just installed a pair of the Strongarm 6815s. They did what the Monroe's could not do, the door will now go all the way up on its own. I'd been banging my had for years. Highly recommend. :frusty:

 

[GOUGER]

For any still out there tired of headbanging



Quick how-to install with the Strongarms 6815's

 

[gamefreakgc]

Quick how-to install with the Strongarms 6815's

Video isn't working

 

[sawguy]

No worky

 

[HappyHooligan]

I just installed the 4286 Strongarms and for some reason the drivers side bottom one is too big for the bolt to go all the way through? I can't lock it with the c clip? Fixes?