CHERY 554000485AA SUPPORT ASSY
Product Specifications
| CHERY | 554000485AA |
The SUPPORT ASSY is a compressed nitrogen gas strut that supports and controls the opening movement of the bonnet, tailgate, boot lid, or rear hatch, holding the panel in the fully open position without mechanical latching and providing controlled assisted opening from the closed position. The strut consists of a sealed steel cylinder charged with nitrogen gas at high pressure, a piston rod with a calibrated orifice valve that regulates gas flow between the compression and extension chambers, and ball-socket end fittings that attach to mounting pins on the body structure and the panel. Extension force is determined by the nitrogen charge pressure and piston area — this force is matched to the weight and geometry of the specific panel to ensure it opens fully and stays open under its own weight across the vehicle's specified operating temperature range.
This unit — CHERY 554000485AA — is manufactured to OEM-equivalent specifications: extended and compressed length, piston rod diameter, extension force (measured in Newtons at a defined temperature), end fitting ball diameter and socket geometry, and body tube diameter are matched to the original part. Supplied as a direct replacement for standard fitment. Available wholesale from 2.3 USD, MOQ 10 pcs, production lead time 21 days.
Gas struts lose nitrogen charge gradually through microscopic seal permeation — this process accelerates in extreme heat and cold, and with age-related seal hardening. A strut that holds the panel open in summer but allows it to drop in winter has lost sufficient charge that replacement is overdue. Always replace gas struts in pairs on the same panel — a new strut paired with a weak old unit on the opposite side will be overloaded, shortening its service life and causing the panel to open asymmetrically.
- Support the panel securely with a prop rod or assistant before disconnecting either end of the strut — a bonnet or tailgate weighing 15–25 kg will drop immediately when the strut is disconnected and can cause serious injury or panel damage. Never work under an unsupported panel.
- Disconnect the strut at the body end first, then at the panel end. Most OEM struts use a clip-release ball socket — insert a flat-blade screwdriver behind the retaining clip on the socket housing and lever it away from the ball pin while pulling the socket off the pin. Do not use excessive force; the clip releases with minimal effort when correctly disengaged.
- Note the orientation of the strut before removal — gas struts are directional. The piston rod must face downward or at the angle specified by the OEM to ensure the internal damping fluid covers the piston valve correctly. Installing a strut inverted will cause premature seal failure and incorrect damping behaviour.
- Compare the new strut to the old unit before installation — verify extended length, compressed length, body diameter, and end fitting ball diameter. An incorrect extended length will prevent the panel from reaching its design open angle or will force the panel beyond its hinge stop, stressing the hinge.
- Snap the new strut onto the mounting pins starting at the body end, then the panel end. Push the socket firmly onto each ball pin until the retaining clip clicks into its groove — an incompletely seated socket will disengage under load. Tug the strut body to confirm both ends are locked before releasing the panel support.
- Install the new SUPPORT ASSY (CHERY 554000485AA) on both sides of the panel simultaneously, remove the prop support, and test panel operation — the panel should open fully to its stop under its own weight with light assistance, and hold its open position without manual support across the full temperature range expected in the operating region.