hood shocks swap how to

[MONMIX]

All hood shocks get old eventually. They loose the ability to hold a hood up. You never forget the first time a hood falls on your head. It really doesnt hurt but is sure does scare the **** out of you.

Replacing these hood shocks is about as easy as it gets. I am going to give it a 0.5 on the difficulty scale. It will take all of five mineuts out of your day.
New hood shocks LIST OEM for about twenty five bucks each.

All you will need is a tiny screwdriver, or some pick tools. Also a prop rod or a broom handle to hold the hood up.

( please ignore my dirty hood liner )

 

[MONMIX]

First observe which direction the shock is facing. Metal end up.
There is a C shaped clip that goes around a ball joint attached to the hood hinge. All you need to do is slide that clip back part way and pull back.
There is a handy slot to make it easy to get the screwdriver, or pick tool behind the clip. If the clip flys away, dont worry, the new shocks come with the clips on them.

 

[MONMIX]

the bottom comes off the same as the top.
Slide the C clip back slightly and pull away.

Like I said the new shocks come with the C clips on there, so all you do it push it on with a little bit of thumb pressure. No tools needed. A little dab of grease or speay lube on the ball joint wont hurt either. The other side is just as easy. Cake job.
That is all there is to it.

 

[spindlecone]

Nice writeup on a common problem Monmix
Couple observations on my part, about the quality of the OEM struts.
They are marketed by Stabilus (german company) are made in China, Korea, africa, and mexico.
Mine failed at about 1 year, I replaced them with AVM struts (american made) they have chrome plated rods, are about 20% less cost than OEM, going on two yrs with 0 problems, just food for thought

 

[section525]

Good deal. This is on my list of things to do. I'll try out the AVM struts. Can I get them at Autozone, Pep Boys, Kragens??

 

[spindlecone]

Good deal. This is on my list of things to do. I'll try out the AVM struts. Can I get them at Autozone, Pep Boys, Kragens??

Got mine at peps, I think about 18 Bux each

 

[MONMIX]

Nice writeup on a common problem Monmix
Couple observations on my part, about the quality of the OEM struts.
They are marketed by Stabilus (german company) are made in China, Korea, africa, and mexico.
Mine failed at about 1 year, I replaced them with AVM struts (american made) they have chrome plated rods, are about 20% less cost than OEM, going on two yrs with 0 problems, just food for thought

thanks for the compliemnt.

Point taken. If these fail I will follow your lead.

 

[newc5188]

Good write up... this is another thing on my list... haha

 

[celly]

I'm doing this mod sooner than later. Even though my Eddie has low km, the struts aren't so great. I'll watch out for those AVM units.

Great write-up.

 

[section525]

Monmix.. look what you did.


I haven't seen this happen for a looong time. Plus, I got them for $8 each from Pepboys through a buddy's hookup.

 

[MONMIX]

well thank you.

A gotta give Spindlcone props too on the discount props

 

[toypaseo]

For me, the best price was from Carquest.

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

This is on my to do list...For now the old rake handel cut down is working alright

 

[wired_af]

You made this write up just in time, my hood unexpectedly fell a couple days ago, scary stuff...I think I pooped a little.

 

[slravene]

haha, i use a baseball bat to hold my hood up.....i need to get new hood shocks.

 

[spindlecone]

well thank you.

A gotta give Spindlcone props too on the discount props

Thx Monmix
The AVMs are great USA made stuff

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for posting this thread. This was on my list of things that I was planning on doing. I originally bought some shocks online used in bulk. I think one of them might be bad out of the bunch. If I would have gotten new ones for $8 a piece, I wouldn't have bothered taking a chance with used ones. They only cost me about $10, and shipping anyway.

 

[storlied]

I picked up a pair of these at Napa for around 25$ each.. they say "SuperLift" on them..
THIS IS AWESOME, MY HOOD STAYS UP! It never has before...

How long do these usually last?

 

[gijoecam]

Depends... the factory ones lasted me 7 years, the aftermarket StrongArm struts I used lasted 3 years. Lucky for me they have a lifetime warranty, so I replaced them again a couple months ago...

-Joe

 

[storlied]

Ah.