Recommendations For Strut Supplier in 2026?

[NC26528]

Following my relocation to Chandler AZ, it’s time to get serious about sealed struts for my 40 BL. Looking through the interweb is not turning up much info, so turning to the brain trust here.

Where or who is the go to for a complete set of struts in 2026?

my thanks

[Hank Jarrett]

I have lots of end fittings but we would need streamlined tubing and a fixture to weld them up. I also have the information needed to make them as "Owner Produced Parts". As far as I know there is no one making them. I have good sealed struts for my planes. Anyone want to pick up the gauntlet to make them. It is NOT a complex process, but is pretty expensive to make one planes worth of struts.

Hank

[3Dreaming]

The only option now I believe is Univair.

https://www.univair.com/wing-parts/ua-a815-taylorcraft-front-lift-strut/

https://www.univair.com/wing-parts/ua-a854-taylorcraft-rear-lift-strut/

[EXPlanes]

I bought one front spar for my F21A from Univair two years ago and was satisfied since the Alaskan guys arent building the longer major axis tube struts anymore for a Tcraft. At least thats what they told me. I was surprised to see they were low carbon steel tubes. Would be great if we could make them out of streamlined 4130 with bolt on fittings. Easy to see any rust during inspections!!

[NC26528]

Nobody is making them…. Weird. Last time I was active on this forum there were at least three manufacturers of these things. It never even crossed my mind that a supplier would jump on the MFG bandwagon for a 70 year old airplane for a few years and then stop offering them. I can see not keeping a stockpile of spares, but to abandon the market altogether?

[NC26528]

Nobody is making them…. Weird. Last time I was active on this forum there were at least three manufacturers of these things. It never even crossed my mind that a supplier would jump on the MFG bandwagon for a 70 year old airplane for a few years and then stop offering them. I can see not keeping a stockpile of spares, but to abandon the market altogether?

looks like the Univair parts are close to 4k now…. Should have bought a set when they were 1800!

[EXPlanes]

When I received my strut from Univair it was delivered by UPS. The driver hung around to see if it was damaged during shipping. It was packaged securely with no damage. Actually a very good job! I did laugh at the primer coat as it looked like they rattle canned it with rustoleum which I had to remove to properly paint it.

[Hank Jarrett]

I bought one front spar for my F21A from Univair two years ago and was satisfied since the Alaskan guys arent building the longer major axis tube struts anymore for a Tcraft. At least thats what they told me. I was surprised to see they were low carbon steel tubes. Would be great if we could make them out of streamlined 4130 with bolt on fittings. Easy to see any rust during inspections!!

Problem with making them bolt on is you are modifying the basic load carrying design. FAA isn't going to let you do that without a full design review and then make them under a PMA. That just shot the cost through the roof. Airplanes don't fly by engineering, they fly by regulation and the FAA doesn't care if it is a good idea. You have to do it THEIR way.

[3Dreaming]

Nobody is making them…. Weird. Last time I was active on this forum there were at least three manufacturers of these things. It never even crossed my mind that a supplier would jump on the MFG bandwagon for a 70 year old airplane for a few years and then stop offering them. I can see not keeping a stockpile of spares, but to abandon the market altogether?

looks like the Univair parts are close to 4k now…. Should have bought a set when they were 1800!

Alaska Airframes, Univair, and Aero Fabricators / Wag Aero were the three that were making them. Univair was making them before the AD. Wag Aero closed down. Alaska Airframes moved on to other things, so that just leaves Univair. After the initial influx of strut orders due to the AD the need went down dramatically.

[NC26528]

Ok, so in the context of T-craft “sealed struts”, what is the technical difference from the factory struts and the later sealed versions? In other words, what is the “sealing mechanism”? Is it as simple as an end cap on the struts fitting and welding up any jury strut or intersection fairing holes?

[3Dreaming]

Ok, so in the context of T-craft “sealed struts”, what is the technical difference from the factory struts and the later sealed versions? In other words, what is the “sealing mechanism”? Is it as simple as an end cap on the struts fitting and welding up any jury strut or intersection fairing holes?

Sealing would require a process approved by the FAA. Aero Fabricators had an approval before they went out of business. It was contingent on no visible rust in the lower 12 inches of the strut by doing a borescope inspection through a hole drilled in the lower end cap on the strut. The front struts are fairly easy all holes welded up, and a bushing welded in where the top bolt goes through. The rear struts are a little harder because the outer threaded tube for the adjuster needs a bottom in it to seal the strut. I'm not sure if they just welded a cap on the tube before welding into the strut, or if they had a special machined piece. I think they also oiled the struts internally, purged with nitrogen, then sealed.