Parts for your 1998 Daihatsu Terios-Gas struts

1998 Daihatsu Terios Gas Struts — What’s Fitted and What Isn’t

For the 1998 Daihatsu Terios (J100/J102 series), factory gas struts aren’t a standard feature. Technical sources including the Daihatsu Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for J100/J102 (1997–2000) and the Daihatsu Terios J100 Series Workshop Manual confirm the bonnet uses a manual support rod, and the rear door is side-hinged with a mechanical check stay, not lift-type gas struts. There’s no listing for bonnet or tailgate gas lift supports in the factory parts listings for this model year.

This makes sense given the Terios’ design. The rear door swings sideways and carries a spare wheel, so a robust hinge and check strap manage the door’s movement and hold-open position. Gas lift struts are typically used on upwards-opening liftgates, they’re not required on side-opening doors, where a check stay controls travel and latching. Up front, the lightweight bonnet is adequately supported by a simple prop rod, which is reliable, cheap, and easy to service.

• Side-hinged rear door: controlled by a mechanical check stay rather than lift struts.
• Bonnet: supported by a prop rod, with no gas struts listed in the EPC.
• Fewer wear items: fewer seals to leak and no pressurised cylinders to fail over time.

Owners sometimes retrofit aftermarket gas struts to the bonnet for convenience. If that’s on the cards, it’s worth choosing a kit designed specifically for the J100 body so loads aren’t transferred to weak points on the guards or hinges. Poorly placed brackets or over-strong struts can distort panels or stress the hinge mounts. If an aftermarket rear-door damper is fitted (some kits add a small assist damper to temper the swing on a windy day), treat it as a convenience item and inspect it periodically for oil misting, bent rods, or slow operation.

For anyone maintaining a stock 1998 Terios, there’s no factory gas strut to service or replace. Instead, check the bonnet prop rod clip and grommets, lubricate the rear door hinges and latch, and inspect the rear door check stay for smooth operation and secure fasteners. That keeps the original setup working sweet as, without chasing parts the vehicle never had from new.

Does a 1998 Daihatsu Terios have gas struts from factory?

No. Factory documentation shows a bonnet prop rod and a side-hinged rear door with a mechanical check stay. There are no OEM gas lift struts listed for bonnet or back door on the 1998 model.

Can gas struts be retrofitted to the bonnet?

Yes, aftermarket bonnet strut kits exist. Choose a Terios-specific kit, follow the supplied torque specs, and avoid oversized struts that can stress hinges. Re-check fasteners after a few drives.

How do I look after an aftermarket gas strut if one’s fitted?

Keep the rod clean, don’t grease the shaft, and replace the strut if you see oil misting, sticking, or reduced lift. Match force ratings and replace in pairs if a kit uses two bonnet struts.