Trunk Deck Lift Failure

[KappaKadet]

Looks like you originally used a white plastic end cap
to mount a rather heavy grade spring with 15 coils.









Used a pair of slightly weaker springs (25 coils) in early 2009
and drill mounted one of them on each side with no problems.

[Carbon Sky]

I don't know who's pics those are, but they all seem to do something similar. And because the spring attaches so close to the end where it's welded to the car, the length for leverage is short, therefore, the spring has not been generating enough force to bend that rod . . . at least on my car.

Just curious why it seems some people need 2 springs, or to the point that rod bends. Like I said, I'm guessing it's because the torsion rod system might be damaged, and as a result there's almost no lift from it before adding the additional aftermarket springs.

[MomsSol]

Originally Posted by TomatoSoup Really? If young children knew the double-entendre, then there would be no need to change the title anyway - it's too late. If they don't then it doesn't matter. Sometimes PC goes a bit far... just sayin'.

Yes really...when I get a reported post from a father who had to explain erection to his young son, that is NOT PC. That is keeping this forum family friendly per forum policies.

Double entendre or not....you know as well as I do that many of you clicked on the thread to find exactly what is was about, only to find out it had to do with the lift springs for the rear deck.

[rob the elder]

Here you go

What Are the Duties of an Erection Engineer? | eHow.com
And
Erection Engineering and Site Management - Metals Technologies - Siemens

It is a common engineering term

But whatever...

[TomatoSoup]

Originally Posted by MomsSol Yes really...when I get a reported post from a father who had to explain erection to his young son, that is NOT PC. That is keeping this forum family friendly per forum policies.

So the kid (or his dad) never had an erector set? The father might have wanted to go look up the Oxford English Dictionary:

erection
n noun
1 the action of erecting.
2 a building or other upright structure.

Double entendre or not....you know as well as I do that many of you clicked on the thread to find exactly what is was about, only to find out it had to do with the lift springs for the rear deck.

Actually I didn't, I read it because it was started by Rob the Elder and his posts are always worth reading (or mostly, anyway ). But even if I did, so what does THAT have to do with it?

Anyway, whatever. Do what you think you have to do.

[Treeman]

This family must not have a tv. Every second commercial is about erections.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using AutoGuide App

[rob the elder]

OMG I am so sorry that I chose the initial title.

But the end result has been interesting at least . . .

I started with
"My trunk will not open" but tought that would be missinterperted as refering to the buttress issue


Then I thought "Trunk lid not rotating fully" but knew that would be taken in the wrong way.


I finally settled on use of erection because that is what the mechanism does.

My bad

[chickenwire]

And now, back to our regularly scheduled thread...

Interesting issue - I've never had a problem with my deck lifting but it doesn't have that many years on it. (And yes those words were chosen carefully and they do in fact describe this being a non-issue on our Solstice!)

My concern would be that the deck would lift too quickly and cause damage to the rear end.

I've had the wind catch it and flip it back quickly and watched in fear as the whole back end of the car flexed outward. But it sounds like some of the "auxilliary" springs others have used are light enough and positioned so that it really doesn't create a great "lift" rather more of a holding pressure?

Rob - I'm certainly interested in hearing if simply replacing the torsion bar makes a big improvement. You haven't done any mods that would affect the weight of the lid, have you?

[rob the elder]

Originally Posted by chickenwire And now, back to our regularly scheduled thread... Interesting issue - I've never had a problem with my deck lifting but it doesn't have that many years on it. (And yes those words were chosen carefully and they do in fact describe this being a non-issue on our Solstice!) My concern would be that the deck would lift too quickly and cause damage to the rear end. I've had the wind catch it and flip it back quickly and watched in fear as the whole back end of the car flexed outward. But it sounds like some of the "auxilliary" springs others have used are light enough and positioned so that it really doesn't create a great "lift" rather more of a holding pressure? Rob - I'm certainly interested in hearing if simply replacing the torsion bar makes a big improvement. You haven't done any mods that would affect the weight of the lid, have you?

I have had the latch fail to fully engage on one occasion. The trunk popped open at about 15 MPH. Fortunately it did not damage the hinges. One RMSSC member had hers open at about 30 MPH and both hinges were badly deformed. She had to have them replaced.

I am considering adding a mechanical vertical travel limiting strap installed. Something that will prevent over travel of the trunk under "normal" conditions. It will not help much if you are doing 50MPH when an event occurs but it should prevent damage over time while allowing the trunk lid to open and stay open

[SkyPilot]

I have the 2" spring on mine and works perfectly. The only real caveat to use of the spring(s) is whether you have a windrestrictor that attaches between the tulip and the trunk or in front of the tulip. If the former then you will always have a spring issue since the spring is trying to overcome the pressure exerted by the WR pressing against the rubber seal and then against the trunk. If the latter the spring does the trick as is my case, but a buddy of mine has the first mouting method and the springs (tried 2 springs) do not work with his at all.

[TomatoSoup]

Originally Posted by rob the elder I am considering adding a mechanical vertical travel limiting strap installed. Something that will prevent over travel of the trunk under "normal" conditions. It will not help much if you are doing 50MPH when an event occurs but it should prevent damage over time while allowing the trunk lid to open and stay open

THAT is a great idea! (I'm shocked that *I* didn't think of it! - I've done it on wall cabinets in the home to prevent wall damage from cabinet door handles )

Always been a bit worried about opening the trunk on a windy day and something like that would ameliorate the issue.

[rob the elder]

OK now I am worried. You ALWAYS think of this stuff before me.