Reliable Standard Gas Springs

Reliable Standard Gas Springs Guden's Standard Gas Springs provide a versatile and efficient solution for your motion control applications. Designed with precision and manufactured using high-quality materials, our standard gas springs are the ideal choice for design engineers, sheet metal fabricators, and hardware distributors who need a reliable, long-lasting product.

Our nitrogen-pressurized gas lifts have been designed for unsurpassed durability and flexibility, suitable for a range of applications from truck caps to chest lids and doors. Featuring an assistive opening option as well as the ability to stay open when desired, our easy-to-install springs also come with oil preloaded in the cylinder to ensure smooth operation.

Our gas springs are available in a wide range of sizes, from our Mini-Size (4mm x 12mm) to our Compact-Size (6mm x 15mm) and Standard-Size (8mm x 18mm) and our Heavy-Duty-Size (10mm x 22mm) gas springs. So no matter your needs, we have the right size for your project.

Please contact us if your requirements are for extended lengths and stroke sizes not listed here; custom gas springs are available.

Also see:
What is a Gas Spring?
Need Help Selecting A Gas Spring?
About Gas Springs
Gas Spring Safety and Design
Notes about Safety
Mini Gas Springs

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Explore Guden's Standard Gas Springs

Benefits of Guden's Standard Gas Springs

  • Versatility: Our standard gas springs cater to a wide range of motion control applications, including truck caps, chest lids, doors, hatches, and covers.
  • Easy Installation: Guden's gas springs can be effortlessly installed, using our stock mounting hardware, saving you time and labor costs.
  • Minimal Maintenance: Designed for optimal performance, our standard gas springs require little to no maintenance and deliver long-lasting service life.
  • Customizable Solutions: With various diameters, lengths, strokes, and pressures, you can find the perfect gas spring to suit your specific needs. If one of our standard stock parts won’t work in your application, we can provide the exact part you need.

Wide Variety of Accessories for Your Standard Gas Springs

To guarantee flawless integration with your application, Guden provides an array of end fittings, brackets, and ball studs for fastening gas springs and dampers. The necessary accessories have been designed for easy installation, ensuring you get the perfect fit for your motion control application.

Choose Guden for all your standard gas spring needs and get the perfect fit for your project. It's no longer necessary to make compromises when it comes to motion control applications; Guden provides a comprehensive selection of superior-quality gas springs with easy installation and minimal maintenance.


Gas Spring FAQs

Helpful Information

Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Here are a few suggestions:

  • More information about Gas Springs can be found in the additional questions and answers below or on our Gas Springs Page.
  • The Search Box at the top of each page will give you answers to what we have on our website. Try it out!
  • Check the drop down menus across the top or our Product Categories on the left for quick navigation of our website.
  • Gas springs can also be customized with additional features. See our listing of Specialty Gas Springs.
  • For more information on gas springs, check out our video on mounting and some Do's and Dont's about gas springs.

What is a gas spring?

Gas springs, sometimes known as gas struts or gas shocks are essentially a rod assembled with a tube with some seals and mechanics inside. The tube is pressurized with some kind of gas, usually nitrogen, and when the rod is pushed into the tube, the compressed gas forces it back out to full extension.

What are gas springs used for?

A gas spring is mainly used as an assist in lifting a heavy cover or lid, also holding it in the open position. They take the place of an ordinary lid support because they help lighten the load in opening. Gas springs would typically not require any outside assistance in keeping the lid in the open position other than their own internal pressure.

Is a gas spring the same as a gas strut or gas shock?

Typically, these 3 popular terms are used interchangeably but you should always describe the action of the part to confirm that you are getting exactly what you want.

What is inside a gas spring?

A typical gas spring assembly is a rod, a tube, a seal pack, and some type of inert gas, usually compressed nitrogen gas. There is also a small amount of oil inside the tube for lubrication of the seals. Though they act like there could be a compression spring inside, it is only compressed gas pressure that forces the rod back to full extension.

Does it matter if the rod is up or down when I mount a gas spring?

For the longest lifespan, it's best to mount the spring so that whatever position the gas spring is in for the majority of the time, the tube is above, or higher than the rod. This is typically described as a "rod down" orientation. This keeps the lubrication oil around the seal pack to lessen gas leakage due to dried out cracked seals.

How long do gas springs last?

Because every application is different, it's hard to say exactly, but typically, most of your average applications are analyzed and designed to perform for 1-3 years or so. Aside from physical abuse or damage, the main cause of a gas spring to fail is the loss of pressure. While the sealing process to keep the gas inside a gas spring is superior, it is completely normal for a small amount of gas to continually leak out over time. Typically this amounts to only 1-3 pounds per year depending on the size and pressure of the gas spring.

What can I do to extend the life of my gas spring application?

Several factors can affect the life of your spring:
  • Temperature. The higher the temperature, the more pressurized the gas becomes which greatly increases your normal leak rate.
  • Speed of Cycles. A gas spring should normally be allowed to extend and compress on its own as much as possible.
  • Use of Stroke. Reducing the amount of stroke used in your application can extend the life off the gas spring.
  • Caustic Environment. Any chemical or physical situation that could cause damage to a gas spring, particularly the weld seals on each end and the rod, can cause not just gas leakage, but in extreme cases, catastrophic failure.

What is the temperature range for a gas spring?

Temperature plays a big role in the working of a gas spring application. A temperature range of 40F to 100F typically gives the best application results.

What is the speed of extension on a gas spring?

Outside of an application, a gas spring, sometimes also called a gas strut or gas shock, will extend in about 1-3 seconds depending on the size and pressure. In an application, we recommend that a gas spring be allowed to extend on its own without any pull from an outside source beyond what it takes to lift it until its pressure takes over.

Can I use a close alternative to the spring I already have?

Maybe! Using an exact replacement is always best as most gas spring applications have been designed and engineered for the expected actions and reactions you've seen in your application. Deviating just a little in the length or stroke could mean the lid not closing completely or opening fully.

How can I tell which gas spring to use in my application?

There is a mathematical process that analyzes the forces, weights and dimensions of an application to determine where and what spring you should use. Almost every application is different, and even the same application could be solved with two different solutions.

How many gas springs should I use?

It is always recommended to use two gas springs in an application whenever possible. Having a gas spring on both ends of your cover allows for a more even lifting of your door and more securely holds it in the open position.

What types of gas springs are there?

There are several types of gas springs, also known as gas struts and gas shocks, that do more than just lift and hold open:
  • Adjustable - These have a built in valve so you could bleed off the pressure of the spring down to what your application needs.
  • Locking - For situations that want a positive lock on the gas spring, this type has mechanism, usually a spring-loaded shroud around the rod, that requires you to manually release it before you can compress the spring.
  • Friction - A resistance nut is fitted around the rod. When this nut is tightened, it provides friction so that the rod doesn't extend at the normal speed and for positioning the cover in several open angles.
  • Stainless steel - These springs resist corrosion more than the standard black painted tube and black nitride rod gas springs and allow your gas spring to be used areas such as marine, chemical or medical environments.
  • Minature gas springs - Small, but not weak. These can fit into tighter spaces and be used on even lighter doors and lids due to their lower pressure range.

Can I use gas springs in a saltwater environment?

Yes, but maybe not for extended months or years of use. Most standard gas springs are supplied with a black epoxy painted tube and a black nitride finish rod and this construction offers an adequate corrosion resistance for most protected outdoor and mild marine environments. For more harsher conditions, a gas spring with a stainless steel rod and tube will resist corrosion even longer.

How can I prevent my gas spring from closing by accident?

Most typical gas spring applications can be designed so that the spring mounting points and pressure keep the lid securely open until someone exerts an adequate force to start closing it to a point where the lid weight allows for it to close on its own. Increasing the gas spring pressure may also decrease the likelihood that someone would close the lid by accident. Incorporating a locking gas spring into the design is also an option.

How can I slow a gas spring from extending too quickly?

Outside of an application, most gas springs will extend within 1-3 seconds from full compression. This of course depends on how long the travel, or stroke, is on the gas spring. When mounted in an application, the weight of the cover combined with the geometry of the mounting points can be adjusted and analyzed so you get different speeds. A friction type gas spring could also be used to achieve a slower extension.

How can I get my cover to stop at different positions other than the fully open position?

Unimpeded, a standard gas spring will always want to fully extend due to its internal pressure. In a normal application, it's usually designed to push the door to the fully open position. To prevent this automatic extension, you could use a specialty gas spring that is assembled with a friction nut apparatus that encircles the rod.

What's the shortest gas spring I can get?

Most standard gas springs are available from stock in sizes from a half a foot long to several feet in extended length. These gas springs will fit well in most standard applications. For even smaller situations, miniature gas springs are also available in sizes as small as 4.50 inches.

Why can't I compress my gas spring?

Gas springs have a tube that is pressurized with nitrogen gas so that when the rod is compressed into the tube, it is immediately forced back out. Only some of the lower pressure gas springs can be compressed simply by pushing them closed between your hands.

I need to replace a failing gas spring, what should I do?

An exact match to the spring you have is of course the best way to go and we recommend checking with the manufacturer of whatever you're putting it on to see where you can purchase it. You can also search online for the part number or search through sizes from other gas spring manufacturers.

Can I change the pressure of my gas spring?

For the most part, the answer to this is NO. Standard gas springs have the pressure in them set at the time of manufacturing and it cannot be changed. Gas springs that have an adjustable force feature are what you'd be looking for.