I use vice grips.

 

I just changed mine last week...if you have the original ones in there they are not going to pop out...unbolt them and use the ballmounts that were provided (should have come with them)... install ball mounts then pop in the new ones and you done...good luck

 

IIRC, there's a little metal strap thing that goes around the outside of the ball mount. Just pry that out a little with a flat head screwdriver. (You don't have the take it all the way off.) The strut will then pop off the mount.

 

7 years later .....

 

why does this keep happening?

 

+1

I just did this on my car...very easy
1. Get friend/lackey to hold up hood for like 20min (or just prop it up)
2. Undo bolt that attaches lift to hood
3. Undo bolt that attaches to car.
4. Take gasket/washers and transfer them over to the new pair
5. There is a small metal band that wraps around the ball joint of the lift, pop them out with a screwdriver
6. Screw in the new lift's bolt to the car, then the other to the hood.
7. Place lift ball joints back into place and snap the metal bands back into place.
8. Rinse and repeat for the other side.

 

$32 shipped for both at EBAY!!!

 

I got the hood struts. Now the trunk doesn't pop open on my 97 GLE anymore when I use the remote to open it. Can anyone suggest a fix or a good post that talks about fixing this problem?

Thanks.

 

searching hood supports.

at least he's searching

 

I just read through the last of the 13 pages of threads for 4th gen maximas. I want to send a big thank you to everyone who posts their attempts to fix problems and the actual solutions.

I have the infamous "takes 15 seconds of cranking before car starts" issue. I replaced the starter and the problem did not go away. Without the forum, I would have never figured out the grounding solution. I was ready to swap ignition, spark plugs and wires. Luckily this deployment came up and put my spending spree on hold long enough to read through the posts and find some low-cost solutions to several problems my car has that are common to 4th gen Maximas.

I also agree that the cars are well built overall and you can easily take them to 300K+. My 97 GLE passed California smog when it was 9 years old and the guy told me it had some of the lowest emissions he's ever seen for a car in the same class.

 

The AutoZone near me has them.. and the Pep Boys.. $15/each

 

I bought a pair from ebay they were $23 then but they were very strong had more then enough force to hold the hood up. I recommend them ive had them for a year and they still work great. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissa...spagenameZWDVW

 

Any help on the trunk would be apprecaited. Mine will not open when I use the remote. It just unlocks and I have to pull it up myself. Anyone with a solution?

 

Ebay lifetime warranty FTW!

 

I just bought some new hood struts from Joe@ Infiniti of scottsdale.

I bought the oem full replacement kit and installed it in 15 minutes.

I compared the old to new struts and they have improved them with a longer and thicker strut body. They cost more than the other struts but they feel like they'll last another 11 1/2 years, very high quality.

 

Alright guys, i got my hood struts, i looked at my hood and its the OEM ones in right now. you guys said to unbolt the old ones. I tried unbolteing them but cant get to the bolt. I was using pliers and needle nose. I was getting so frustrated , i felt like breaking ti off. What kind of tool did u guys use to take it off

 

The bolt is part of the ball joint. Use a 12mm wrench and if it is frozen use penetrating oil!