why are hood struts for our cars ridiculously expensive to replace? (a strut tower brace costs less than a set)

 

From the dealer they are outrageous. 50 bucks for a pair for aftermarket is not so bad. You could always have one of those little fold out sticks.

 

I replaced mine last year. They were very expensive at the dealer, so I ordered an aftermarket pair on the internet. They cost about $30. They were not direct replacements, but I did get them to work.

 

Has anyone considered a prop-rod as a replacement vs. expensive hood struts?

 

Cheapskate. How much did your rims or stereo cost? Geez, just put one new one on, that generally will hold the hood up.

 

Man, I just propped it up with a wrench, screw the broom stick, screw the new struts, and it does not obstruct anything, it sits where the struts would be.

 

I use a stick i found in the back yard.

 

SCORE !!!!!!!!!

 

yeah our struts failed also. My dad put in this 1.5" around log thats about 2ft long under the hood so he can prop it up where ever he needs to. Cause our hood is bent up on the sides from a crash you can see the stick from the outside.

 

I use the same stick to prop up the trunk lid as well.
Never noticed one of the arms in there was twisted till a week after I bought it.
I allso use that stik to scare little guys that give me the finger when i'm driving. Nothing scares a little Philipino woman more than a big hary Irish man with a stick coming behined you at a red light. I never do anuthing though I just like to put a little scare into them. I betcha after that they dont give anyone else the finger for a long time My wife gets a kick out of it.

 

you get grip/presure Pliers and raise the hood, then clinch the presure pliers right below the piston thing. hoods stays up and you dont have to worry about the wrench falling off

 

I use a small Vice Grip also.. Maybe we can do a group deal seeing so many people have this problem??? I figure at least 10-20 people need them.

 

thatd be a good idea

 

My struts are bad too. I hate working under the hood. That damn hood comes down like a freaking guillotine. One day i'm sure its gonna lop my head off!

 

I have a broom stick in the trunk of my car but the vise grip thing sounds a lot better.

 

count me in on the group deal.

 

mtcookson made one of those hood holder stick things.


personally...
white car - working hood struts (and if they go out I'll just replace them)
black car - vice grips on the passenger strut

 

before i just used what ever sticks i could find, then i hit the boneyard and got me-self a set fore ten. it still holds.

 

i just bought mine on ebay, and they work fine. It was soemthing like 52 dollars for the set. I had to drill out the brackets to fit the new pin however, but with my dad's drill press it was no problem. So the set on ebay that are advertised for our maxs require drilling just in case any of you were looking to go that method.

 

deamm should all order from internetautomart.

 

PVC pipe works well!

 

Thats good impro.

50$ from internetautomator is not bad price if they click in.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=383578
I would love to buy those internetautomator pumps, but ship ping and taxes plus taxes...

Two days ago it came down on me the second time. That was enough. Btw: Olympys cameras seem to have hard casing... Yesterday I bough one (with 15$) and then modded the hood endpiece as it was one inch longer. Total lenght two inches more. Now it has only one (lower) screw as the hood attachement piece sits only on the foremost nut. Fits nice. Even could still take pics of it...

 

thanks for the infomation, cause i was lookin at some on ebay also

 

i just use a 1/2 inch ratchet. just put that on the p/s junction bracket thing at the back of the pass. strut tower, works wonders. especally since i really only use my 3/8 socket set any way.

 

there are some cheap people on this thread lol.

If something fails I replace it no matter if its the hood struts or not. I have a scar on my head where the hood came down on me when I first got my 93. I have new struts now and they were worth the $25 or so a piece I paid for them. A stick or vise grips etc is just cheesy and cheap imo...but to each his own I guess.

 

Yeah, I feel your pain. During the time when my hood struts first started failing, I was observing something under the hood, and without notice it just fell on my head with the metal hook missing the soft part under the back of my skull by an inch. I don't want to even think about what could happen to one of these guys if one of their "inventions" that hold up the hood were to fail.

 

I'd be in on a GD, I prop mine up with a wooden stake that was apart of a gargae sale sign. I keep it in my trunk when i'm not using it and bring it out to scare people and hold up the hood.

 

come on man...a group deal on hood struts.

Im sorry I dont mean to be negative...I just dont understand the thinking.

If I need hood struts I go buy them...I dont wait and try to get 10 people up for a GD that will save me maybe $5. Its not worth the hassle.

 

Where does one even purchase new hood struts?

Maybe I'll go get me some I've just been using a metal pipe for years

 

I use a 2X4 that I found in my garage!! I also use an old trunk strut that I got off of my buddies Trans Am that holds up the million pound pure glass hatch!! lol It also helps to intimidate people when they're messing with you!!

 

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