My hood struts (if that's what they are called) are beginning to wear out. They don't seem to be strong enough to hold the hood up for more than a few mins and the slightest wind/movement will make it come down. Anyone have a part number or know a cheap source? Is this a direct bolt off/on or is there a need to align the hood?

Thanks,

 

Stop at any auto parts store and they will have them. They aren't expensive either.

 

autozone.....if i remember right..$20 bucks a piece...10 minute bolt on

--- if you dont want to buy two, you could probably just buy/replace one and it would work just fine!

 

Good idea!

So I just give them the model of my car at any auto parts store? I would imagine they have these struts in different shapes/sizes.

 

yeah, i just told them what i had and what i wanted....and they threw me a part

-- they're probably pretty universal

 

I neglected mine to the point where they finally started oozing oil one day lol
Now I just use a wooden pole

 

use a stick man.

 

lifetime warranty @ kragen, cheap too
Dr J

 

i hear the after market ones don't hold up. you're better off getting the nissan ones.

 

hood struts are overrated.....


Broom handle FTW

 

when i lived in Miami some of the SW .orgers told me to "SW Style" them suckers.... it was either streetz or 95blkmax who then grabbed a ratchet, put it behind each shock, and bent them forward just enough so that when you opened the hood they would sit on the bend and stay open. been like that for 3 years no problems. how often do u open ur hood anyways ya know...

 

wow and that worked! maybe i should try that. but with my luck i'll bend them and then wont be able to open the hood at all.

 

You heard wrong.

Besides, kragen ones are lifetime warranty and 1/2 the price of dealership
Dr J

 

just go spend the $39.76 + tax and don't worry/mess with them anymore.

these'll be the last ones you'll buy.

i have these and there's absolutely nothing wrong with 'em.

http://www.partsamerica.com/productd...pe=565&PTSet=A

 

That or ebay.

 

I bought replacement ones at Advanced and they are starting to go bad after a year. Instead of the hassle I'm going to start using a stick or something too. I suppose you could get some with lifetime warranty......

And you should be opening your hood fairly often I would think, considering you should change the oil every 3k-4k miles...

 

im going on about 3 years with my replacements from advanced - you must have a fat hood

 

Don't toss yours! Offer them to someone with a CF hood. Brand new hood shocks are too strong for a CF hood. Tired shocks would be perfect.

 

Agreed, hood struts are unnecessary weight

I use an old school level

 

no , I didn't hear wrong there is a thread of people complaining about aftermarket ones failing in less than a year. where do you get the Kragen ones with the lifetime warranty?

 

worn out struts + vise grips




Did that before I replaced mine

 

drill a hole in the silver tube where you want to open highest point then stick allen key should hold up...

 

sounds like a good idea , whateva works for you. I just want to get them changed and be done with it. Im using the vise grips now and Im tired of it.

 

a small vicegrip behind one of the hydraulic masts would suffice.

broom handle ftw, sure.

o'reilley's, autozone, advanced, etc...part number 4524. $40 for both

if you replace one, replace them both, or you'll put too much strain on the one good one, and it will too go bad.

 

I don't count the ebay ones, cuz there's no warranty... they could be DOA and you're screwed.
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...artNumber=4524
I haven't had to use the warranty on these, but it's peace of mind, just in case. They wouldn't lifetime them if they were POS... they'd simply lose too much $. Unlike the dealership ones, which vary between dealers. The only thing lifetime warranty from dealer are the seatbelts, according to my users manual. LOL.

Dr J

 

My oem hood struts lasted 10 1/2 years then slowly started to fail.
The replacements from Advance lasted a year and failed abruptly.
Lifetime warranty but a pain nonetheless if they'll need to be changed yearly.

 

lol yeah that's true. Well this seems like a good alternative to the oem ones and a lot cheaper. How long have you had them so far? . Thanks for the link.I'll definitely try these out.

 

Ive been thro like 3 pairs buying off ebay.. most of them suck.

 

Don't get the Auto Zone ones......mine lasted maybe 3 months. I've been using a stick for a year or so.....but I may try those lifetime ones from Kragen

 

Check out the
http://forums.nycmaximas.org/showthr...ght=hood+shock

then enjoy

 

wish i seen this information earlier i was adding tranny fluid and holding the hood up with my head

 

I drilled a hole in mine on the steel rod after they blew and keep them up with pin steal pins.

Works great.

 

or a 11mm wrench and a flat head screw driver, new struts, problem solved

 

except for when the wind blows and/or you bump it and the whole thing falls down on your wrench and screwdriver causing a dent!

....lol, why is the thread so long?

 

.........My post ment fixing the damn problem, Instead of all this ghetto rig ****

 

oh, haha ....oops...thought you meant that was your "solution" for a hood strut

----I got a small dent once from a very heavy wind and the broom handle i was using......tornado season--i learned the hard way and buy my struts now