Parts for your 1989 Suzuki Jimny-Gas struts

1989 Suzuki Jimny (SJ413/Sierra) gas struts: are they used?

Short answer: no. The 1989 Suzuki Jimny (sold locally as the Sierra/SJ413) wasn’t factory-fitted with gas struts on the bonnet or the rear door. Factory documentation shows a simple bonnet stay rod and a side‑hinged rear tailgate, both of which don’t require gas lift supports.

Technical sources that confirm this include: the Suzuki factory service manual for the SJ413/Samurai (late‑1980s Body and Chassis sections note a hood/bonnet stay, not struts, rear door is side‑hinged), the Suzuki Electronic Parts Catalogue (SJ413/Sierra for AU/NZ, which lists the bonnet stay, hinges and latch but no gas lifts), and popular aftermarket manuals such as Gregory’s “Suzuki Sierra SJ50/SJ70 1982–1996” and the Haynes “Suzuki SJ410 & SJ413 1981–1994”, both depicting the prop‑rod setup and a swing tailgate.

Why no gas struts? The Jimny/Sierra of this era was engineered for simplicity, light weight and ruggedness. A side‑hinged rear door avoids the need for lift supports, and a steel prop rod for the bonnet is cheaper, lighter and less likely to fail in remote conditions. That was very much the design brief for a dependable, off‑road‑first 4x4 in the late 80s.

Owners keen on convenience can still add gas struts as a retrofit. Common options include bonnet strut kits (with brackets to avoid drilling the structural seam) and gas‑strut‑assisted rear glass on certain aftermarket hardtops. If going this route, it’s worth choosing corrosion‑resistant hardware (stainless shafts, quality seals), matching the compressed/extended lengths and end fittings properly (ball sockets or eyelets, usually M6/M8), and sizing the force to the panel’s weight and leverage so the bonnet or glass opens smoothly without over‑stressing hinges. Periodic checks for oil misting, weak lift, or binding at the hinges will help the setup last, especially in sandy or salty coastal use common around Aus and NZ.

• Factory fitment: no gas struts for bonnet or tailgate on 1989 Jimny/Sierra (SJ413)
• Design intent: simple, durable prop rod and side‑hinged rear door
• Aftermarket: bonnet and hardtop‑glass strut kits are available, fit with care

Popular questions

Can gas struts be fitted to the 1989 Jimny/Sierra bonnet?

Yes. Aftermarket bonnet strut kits or universal struts with custom brackets can be installed. The key is solid mounting points that don’t deform the guard or interfere with the bonnet’s closing line. Test-fit for clearance at full open and closed, and use thread‑locker on ball studs. If unsure, a fabricator can mock up bracket geometry before drilling.

Did any 1989 Jimny model come with factory gas struts?

No. Across factory service manuals and parts catalogues for AU/NZ and global SJ413 variants, the bonnet uses a stay rod and the rear door is side‑hinged. Some aftermarket hardtops feature lift‑up rear glass that uses gas struts, but that’s not an OEM Suzuki fitment for 1989 models.

What size/force gas struts should be used for an aftermarket conversion?

It depends on the panel’s weight and hinge geometry. As a rule of thumb, two smaller struts are better than one large unit for even lift. Measure required extended and compressed lengths with the bonnet/glass positioned where you want it to open and close. Suppliers can help calculate force once you provide panel weight and mounting distances, expect trial fitting to fine‑tune the result.