S70 trunk shuts quickly

[iamjason]

I have a 98 S70. I feel like the trunk has been this way since I got it new but my recollection is under dispute . So maybe someone can shed some light on this

The trunk opens just fine and, as long as it is fully up, will remain up without it closing. However, if someone does it a little bit less than fully open, it will start closing and pick up soeed, eventually shutting pretty hard. Sometimes friends are a little surprised when they close the trunk how much it slams (which I feel these friends of mine were surprised even 15 years ago...)

So first question is -- is there something wrong, or is this the intended design of the trunk?

Either way, is there something I can do to make the trunk have a 'soft landing' ?

[matthew1]

Sounds like your trunk struts are toast.

[joejoethedogfaceboy]

Agreed about the struts being shot.

On that same topic, should new struts “pop” the lid all the way up? My son and I have a disagreement about what the expected behavior should be.

-Joe

[Ozark Lee]

Agreed about the struts being shot.

On that same topic, should new struts “pop” the lid all the way up? My son and I have a disagreement about what the expected behavior should be.

-Joe

I prefer them not to but many of the aftermarket struts tend have a bit more energy than the OEMs, at least for the first couple of years. On the wagon I have to be careful not to get smacked in the face when I pop the tailgate.

...Lee

[precopster]

Our 850 had toasted trunk struts and it raised easily due to there being assist springs in there. If there were a crosswind it would shut all on its own. Once replaced the struts fixed the issue

[abscate]

I wonder of S70 trunk springs wear out?

[precopster]

As I recall I think they were torsion bars which twist with the closing of the trunk. They would be a right royal pain to swap out and were color matched if I recall correctly but who really cares about that if you can't see them?

[abscate]

Who cares if your wheels match when you can only see one side ?

I missed last meeting of the OCD club because my parking space was taken

[crlande]

Increasingly I find myself reading posts just for your reply.

[amblerman]

I recently replaced the trunk struts on my s70. My symptoms were:
1) the trunk would close a bit too easily
2) It would still hold up but I always thought it was borderline.

I replaced the struts and found that one side had failed completely. Putting 2 new trunk struts on made a world of difference.

I also had a parts car where both had failed. It was down right dangerous to open or close the trunk. Opening the trunk felt really heavy and closing it felt like the car wanted to take my arm off.