Do these things wear out or is there a way to tighten them up so they don't slip and drop the hood on you?? thanks.

 

wear out !

If you dont want to change them, use vicegrips to block the struts.

If you want, you can use industrial one. I found a strut in a shop, its longer and lot stronger. I pay 40$ for. Mine is heavy duty, I use only one and it opens the hood like an integra .

 

Yeah, I agree with overdose. That's the way to go.

 

There like 18/each at Autozone.

 

or rockauto.com

 

Do a google search for 'Strongarms"
They will work great and are about $28 for a set of 2.

 

Junkyard- $10 a set and got an amp wiring kit with it for free.

 

I bought a cheapo set off of ebay and I haven't had a problem with them since! I paid $24 with shipping and they're excellent. Had em in for about 4 months and they haven't failed

 

same here

 

the ones I bought I had to mount up side down so it wouldn't scrape on the fender when the hood was closed.

 

dont buy used from the JY.

EBay has em cheap and they work good. Autozone if u dont feel like waiting

 

Sawed off broom handle. I got tired of replacing them.

 

 

2x2 for me right now

 

I did teh saem thing lol works perfect

 

Yep, they definitely wear out. They'll sometimes start leaking oil just like any shock. I've noticed the life of these things can be pretty short here in the midwest with the extreme hot and cold.

 

2x4 or broom works fine for me. still gunna buy real ones tho

 

Even though they wear out, you don't realize how nice it is to have them until you have a car (like my 2003 Altima) that you have to use the hood prop every time you want to check the oil.

To convert to the pneumatic struts is about $80 and I haven't done it yet...

 

I bought some from ebay for my max and they are working. I just take my time oppening the hood to prevent damage. About $25 for a pair.

 

If you go the JY route, Infiniti I30 struts also work and I believe are "heavier duty" than original 4th gen max struts.

Last I checked, dealer wanted $89 each for new factory struts. Go used or on-line.

 

I need to get a set also... for now it's Hood Stick (yes, I named it)

 

I bought went the Autozone way - but couldn't figure out how to get the damned ends off of the old ones to put on the new ones. Stabbed my finger and set them aside 5 months ago. Anybody have a similar problem or am I missing something painfully obvious?

 

I got the old ones off easy as ell. Just match the nut size to the proper spanner size and hit the spanner with a hammer to break the nut loose. just make sure u turning in the right direction or you'll strip it.

I got the Mighty lifts from autozone for about 40$. i forgot about Rockauto or i wouldve saved some money.

Stay away from the ****s pepboys and strauss sells. even though they claim to be for maximas they dont fit.

When putting the new ones on you should put the tops on forst and then try and fit the bottom on as much as posible. then slowly pull down the hood till its snaps onto the bottom perfectly. I love my first set of mighty lifts. these ****s better last.

 

Got a pair of Strong Arms (no more 2 pack I suppose) for $21.79 each at Advance Auto. Found a $10 off $25 coupon online on FatWallet so it was net $36.xx including taxes which is about the same on Amazon with free shipping and no taxes.

Hood now stays up fine. I only started to have issues last winter and for the most part, the struts would hold the hood up fine in summer but I found the coupon so I went for it instead of the 1x4 I used to use to prop the hood up.

 

I baught a pair of new Strong Arm struts on ebay for only $24. With priority S/H the total was only $34 and I recived them within 2 business days. I replaced them today with ease using an open end wrench.

 

I'v had my 4th gen for 11yrs and have replace those damm hood struts so many times it makes me sick. Best so far is Tein. Expensive, but how many set do you want to buy?

 

That's why I got the Stron Arms from Advance. The only problem though I have is that even though the receipt says Lifetime Warranty, I remember asking the guy and at first he joked that it has a warranty till it breaks and then I get to buy a new set. Then he said there's a one time exchange warranty but the receipt clearly says Lifetime.

I plan to keep the receipt and have already photocopied it as its the thermal kind so surely it will vanish in a few months.

Any one else have experience with Advance Auto's so called Limited Lifetime Warranty?

 

it is a WARRANTY not a GUARANTEE and it is limited to the lifetime that the issuer determines. The "lifetime" warranties will vary from part to part and to the person on the counter doing the warranty claim.
Lifetime warranty FTL, getting good quality parts FTW!

 

I bought 2 strongarms as recommended by trooplewis and they work great. They came out to about $36 from amazon.com

 

Strongarms from Amazon FTW. They even shipped mine overnight for free.

 

oops

 

Carbon fiber hood. Should be light enough even for worn out struts to hold.

 

What's wrong with the ones from a Junkyard??

 

they are more than likely almost dead if not already dead

 

Temperature seems to have an effect, cold seems to lessen the hydraulic capability of the struts. I dont live under the hood so a long stick or vice grip on one of the struts will hold if in doubt. Also, any slight angle the car may be perched at can effect strut integrity. Weird though, sometimes the hood will just come down with no hold, other times no issues at all.

 

I checked with them about last week on this when i was getting new brake pads.
He said they were only able to replace them if they were seen as defective. :-/

 

I scoured the forums and bought Sachs. I just received them in two days. From rockauto.com They looked to be the best made after looking at all then ones in the stores recommended by the forum. I got them for $12.00 a piece!

SACHS Part # SG325009 {Hood; Ball Socket End Fittings: 15" Ext. 10" Compr. Length}
$12.93$0.00$12.93

 

Sounds like a good deal. How did installation line up for you? Any tips on old ones removal as wth those particular new struts going in?

 

my ls 400 was so bad the hood wouldnt pop open anymore.... i ordered from ebay mr lous stuff fantastic fit was perfect no drilling.. 5 minute job about 40 for the pair..... just ordered again for my 89...for the 89 the top bracket is pop riveted to strut... mr lou's has the top of the strut pop riveted so its just a bolt on... bottom just snaps into existing ball stud.

 

once i fix all the other stuff UNDER the hood, using my broken broomstick, I'm definitely installing some sweet new struts!