Parts for your 1988 Suzuki Jimny-Gas struts

1988 Suzuki Jimny gas struts — are they used?

For the 1988 Suzuki Jimny (SJ413/Samurai), gas struts aren’t a factory‑fitted item. Technical references including the Suzuki SJ410/SJ413 Factory Service Manual (Body section), the 1988 Samurai Owner’s Manual (Body and Trim), and Suzuki’s Electronic Parts Catalogue list a bonnet prop rod (hood stay) and a side‑hinged rear door with a check strap, but no gas‑charged lift supports. That’s because this model uses a swing‑out back door rather than a top‑hinged liftgate, and the bonnet is supported by a simple stay rather than struts.

Why no gas struts? It comes down to design and reliability. The SJ‑series Jimny was engineered to be rugged, light and easy to service. A steel prop rod for the bonnet is cheap, tough, and won’t lose charge or leak. The rear door swings sideways on heavy hinges, so there’s no need for lift supports to hold it overhead. Even on the hard‑top variants, the spare wheel and door are side‑hinged, and on soft‑tops the rear opening is a zipped window—again, no place for gas struts.

It’s also worth clearing up a common mix‑up: the Jimny’s suspension uses separate shock absorbers (often gas‑charged), but those are shocks, not body gas struts. MacPherson struts aren’t used either—the 1988 Jimny runs solid axles with leaf springs and standalone dampers.

Owners keen on convenience sometimes retrofit bonnet gas struts. Aftermarket kits exist, but they require brackets and occasionally drilling. If going that route, choose stainless hardware, protect any bare metal with primer to fend off rust, and check that bonnet alignment and earth points aren’t affected. For most classic Jimny owners in Australia and New Zealand, the factory prop rod and side‑hinged rear door remain the most reliable, bush‑friendly setup.

• Factory bonnet support: steel prop rod (hood stay).
• Rear door: side‑hinged “back door” with check strap, no lift support.
• No OEM gas struts fitted anywhere on body panels.

Popular questions

Does the 1988 Jimny have gas struts on the bonnet from factory?
No. The bonnet is supported by a simple prop rod as documented in the SJ413/Samurai service and owner’s manuals. There are no OEM lift supports on the hood for this model year.

Can gas struts be added to the 1988 Jimny?
Yes, as an aftermarket convenience upgrade. Choose a kit designed for the SJ413/Samurai, follow the fitting guide carefully, protect any drilled areas from corrosion, and recheck clearances so the bonnet doesn’t foul the guards or cowl.

Does the rear door use gas struts?
No. The back door is side‑hinged and uses a check strap to limit opening. Because it swings out rather than lifting up, gas struts aren’t required or supplied by Suzuki on this model.