Just wondering how heavy your tailgates are as I have to pull quite hard to lift it and occasionally it will come back down, especially when its iced or soked.

 

It's got a stock spoiler on it (don't think its a sponge one). which I'd quite like to remove at some point, will this make much difference to the weight when removed?

there is actually a 'weight' inside the tailgate too. This can be removed very easiliy.

Stock spoiler soaks up so much moisture that with it removed the weight difference means the tailgate trys to smack you in the chin when you open it.

there is actually a 'weight' inside the tailgate too. This can be removed very easily.

 

 

its a counter balance for the aerial i believe, and some people who have removed it have reported warping,

 

get rid of the stick spoiler and get a tailgate skin, mine used to nearly knock me out when i opened it, may also be worth checking your struts they may be knackered,

Does the tailgate skin fit right over the old spoiler holes?

yupyup, takes a bit of work to fit though, job can be difficult if your tailgate is rusty from the old spoiler

Sounds like your struts are knackered, it shouldn't be hard to lift or closing on it's own no matter what spoiler you have.

I thought my struts were knackered, but they look new. The tailgate used to fall down and hit me on the head (which really hurts)!

 

I then removed the foam spoiler and weight, now you can open it with minimal effort from your little finger and the struts lift it up on thier own after about half way.

 

Ariel still works fine, but i did have to adjust the boot catch upwards a bit. Smooth action now tho :)

I had stock spoiler - waterlogged as usual and it used to smack me on the back of the head. Brand new struts from Nissan, no change still "wallop wallop wallop on me 'ed". Changed to ZCentre replica spoiler - fine no probs.

I had stock spoiler - waterlogged as usual and it used to smack me on the back of the head. Brand new struts from Nissan, no change still "wallop wallop wallop on me 'ed". Changed to ZCentre replica spoiler - fine no probs.

ditto the stock spoiler weighs a ton even if it isnt waterlogged. get rid of it! the tailgate is really light on mine now

surely by removing weight from the tailgate it will make the back end more twitchy

I removed my weight and it did not make any differance at all.Not worth the effort really.

I removed the weight and the spoiler and weighed them. The 2 items weighed just over 2 and a half stone!!! Imagine that weight smashing you on the back of the head. Replaced the stock spoiler with the fibreglass zcentre one and all was well. Tailgate still weighed nearly 6 stone though.

 

Ivam

To be honest I'm not bothered about the weight, but I would like to get rid of the spoiler at some point.

the counter weight weighs ****all anyway, leave it there

Are there any fibreglass replacements for the whole hatch? I mean a complete replica in GRP

 

(NOT including the tub that makes it look like an mr2)

the counter weight weighs ****all anyway, leave it there

 

at least 2kg i'd say. I removed it and it made a slight difference when the spoiler was still on. Might put it back in now though, tailgate comes up too quickly without the spoiler on.

Are there any fibreglass replacements for the whole hatch? I mean a complete replica in GRP

 

 

Yes. there is a Fibreglass Tailgate available in the states, but I am hoping to have one prepared in the UK in the near future, together with lexan glass.

the counter weight weighs ****all anyway, leave it there

True and I am only old and frail. :tongue: :dance: :dance: :dance:

Yes. there is a Fibreglass Tailgate available in the states, but I am hoping to have one prepared in the UK in the near future, together with lexan glass.

 

Excellent, let me know when you find any more out about that. I'm looking at ways of increasing the performance on the TT without messing about with the engine and compromising reliability ie. weight saving, better brakes and better cooling/smithy earthing/front mounted intercooler AND NO BOOST TINKERING :smash: :tongue:

What no more boost? Wuss! :dance:

if you need a brand new tailgate skin . i have one forsale . bought it from the z centre but have not used it, gone a different root instead . you can have it for £70.00 . cost me £100.00 with vat and postage . let me know if you want it . cheers