Rear hatch torsion bar replacement/upgrade

[erikhaha]

So after searching through old posts I saw that someone (Nate M) replaced their torsion bar that opens the rear hatch with 2 gas struts. Basically a better modern solution to that torsion spring.

I decided to do this since I kept bending the hinge since one of the pin holes was hogged out.

Placed the mount points in pretty much the same locations as Nate M did, but I moved the bottom mount slightly since the gas struts that I used were a little different length.

I searched Amazon for gas struts in the 60 to 65 Lb range based on Nate M's post:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...;start=800

I Used an old steel strap, 3/16" thick and cut out the mounting plates after using cardboard to mock up their size and placement.

Welded them in place, but when welding to the body it was a little tricky since the sheet metal is a lot thinner than the 3/16" plate. I blew a small hole in the body sheet metal when welding, I guess I had the current up too high. Oh well, I can fix that later.

So now I have a modernized solution to that stupid torsion spring and I love it.

[squaretobehip]

Bummer it doesn't open as high as it normally would. I think I'd walk face first into that thing when it's open.
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1965 Squareback - Baltic Blue

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[sjbartnik]

I don't know if I'd call gas struts an upgrade - the torsion spring will last and work for decades with regular lubrication of the hinge points. The gas struts will crap out after a few years. On the upside, dead gas struts are easy to replace.
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1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650

[erikhaha]

I am fine with it only opening that much. Actually I can probably search for another strut with a longer travel but it isn't an issue for me. Keeps me on my toes.

sjbartnik, you know what they say about opinions? They are like buttholes, everyone has one.

[Xenophek]

Devil's advocate here, but I think the torsion bar is why my hinges are trashed. I pop the hatch and if I let the door open on its own it slams all the way to the limit of its travel. Between the previous owners and myself, my hinges are way out of geometry now and the hatch doesn't seal well.

I'd consider the gas struts if only to keep the door from slamming open and wrecking my hinges.

[erikhaha]

I also think that the torsion rod puts too much force on the hinge stay that attached to the hinge and if it isn't perfectly aligned then the pin hole gets hogged out therefore causing it to become even more out of alignment and eventually bend the hinge.

[KTPhil]

All VW hatches (front and rear, all Types) are unlike most other cars. You don't slam the front to close it. And neither of them are opened by just letting it loose to fly up without causing damage.