Replacing electric boot rams / pistons from China

So my new electric boot struts for my Octavia 2013 arrived today so I will fit them tomorrow.

WARNING

WHEN I removed the old ram I disconnected the battery and unclipped the power connection to the left hand piston / ram I then unclipped  the top of the piston. As I undid the top clip it exploded firing the top of the piston and the spring 40 feet down the drive onto the road. Fortunately it did not take my eye out which it very easily could have.

When I terreved the ram I found the threaded joint between top and bottom of the ram had the screw tread stripped bare.