The hood does not stay up on my 95 SE. I purchased new hood stays from the dealer ($100 + apiece :-(. The old stays have a little ball joint on each end. The new ones do not have the ball joint installed on them and I see no way to get the ball joint off the old stays. Do I need to buy new ball joints or is there a way to get the old ones off?? Appreciate any advice I can get .... thanks... Don

 

Go back to the dealer and return them.

You can pick up bolt on replacement units from Strong Arm from most discount auto parts stores. They run about 20 -25 bucks each. Takes 10 minutes to change them.

 

yes.. what he said

 

When I got my car, the hood struts were also missing. I went to Autozone and got 2 for 20 bucks, with the ball joints.

 

reason # (insert number here) why not to buy parts from the dealer

 

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Thanks to all ...great advice ...will do lovemymax

 

go save some money, return those to the dealer. $200 from the dealer is a rip-off.

 

My hood wouldn't stay up when I first bough my car,so I went to Advanced auto parts and bought 2 for around $25. Better than dealership.

 

damn... you bought two at the dealership for $200+

hit autozone

 

In case you really want to install the Nissan stays, use a Dremel to cut the head open and reuse the ball joint. I replaced mine a couple years ago and did not know about other alternatives. Paid $176, ouch.

 

cmon man u know better than purchasin stuff from dealer. its true that they are high quality OEM parts but just way too damn expensive. i replaced my hood struts a month ago. i got em from autozone for 20 bux each and they come with the ball joint.