hood supports are WEAK

[projectPONY]

greeting to all. I recently had some front end repair done to my '02 Explorer. the shop that did the repair replaced my hood with an all steel hood and the support rods do not hold the hood up in the open position. I'm thinking it's because the hood is a lot heavier now. can I replace the originals with something a little more capable? can someone point me in the right direction please?

 

[techieman33]

See if redline tuning makes anything for them. They just recently made some for the 2nd gen explorers and they're much stronger than the stock ones. If they don't have them a member close to them could probably go be a test vehicle so they can prototype a set.

 

[projectPONY]

hmm, Redline. those would be pricey for sure. a few friends with stangs have those on their cars and they run about $100.

 

[techieman33]

They are a little pricey but I've seen a set in person for a 2nd gen explorer and they're well worth the money for the extra safety. The 2nd gen hood struts are known to fail randomly even when ones less than a year old. And it would be very easy to get injured when something like that happens.

 

[projectPONY]

anyone have a direct link to their site?

 

[techieman33]

Here you go http://www.redlinetuning.com/ it doesn't look like they're offered right now. You could start a thread in the stock 02-05 section looking for a member in the michigan area that would be willing to be a guinea pig. A forum member with a 2nd gen went up there and was very pleased with the results and the way they treated his mountaineer. The 2nd gen thread is here http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=244074&highlight=redline

 

[celly]

hmm, Redline. those would be pricey for sure. a few friends with stangs have those on their cars and they run about $100.

Worth every nickel. I've got them on my '99:

You get what you pay for. They hold up your hood with authority.

 

[steve09812]

greeting to all. I recently had some front end repair done to my '02 Explorer. the shop that did the repair replaced my hood with an all steel hood and the support rods do not hold the hood up in the open position. I'm thinking it's because the hood is a lot heavier now. can I replace the originals with something a little more capable? can someone point me in the right direction please?

I recently came across same problem, Did u reach a conclusion, or find a fix ?

 

[projectPONY]

can't say that I have. I've purchased several brands in the last few months thinking that maybe some would be stronger than others and had no luck. returned every single on of them. I just can't bring myself to spend the $$ for the RedLine.

 

[steve09812]

can't say that I have. I've purchased several brands in the last few months thinking that maybe some would be stronger than others and had no luck. returned every single on of them. I just can't bring myself to spend the $$ for the RedLine.

I hear , that . And i just put a hood scoop on , car is in for paint so getting an oem hood is not an option . Well now that I think of it , if you still have that heat insulation , I dont, u can probably cut some weight off from underside, I mean its steel. If u strategically cut out or drillout some big holes with out compromises the structural integrity of the hood this may help a littlte. But i think i'm gonna go to scrapyard and just get on ot those hold your hood up rods off a junker and make it work .

 

[projectPONY]

when I replaced the original hood with the steel hood I didn't install the heat shield back on. so it's not enough weight saving.

 

[Oxygen]

i had my hood up the other day and i had a large ice coffee sitting right above the passenger side headlight where the plastic flap thing is to get to the corner light screws, and out of no where the hood fell and crushed my whole coffee... i didn't even get a sip out of the coffee either! made a mess too...

 

[celly]

i had my hood up the other day and i had a large ice coffee sitting right above the passenger side headlight where the plastic flap thing is to get to the corner light screws, and out of no where the hood fell and crushed my whole coffee... i didn't even get a sip out of the coffee either! made a mess too...

Been there, done that with crappy OEM replacement struts. Replace coffee cup with left hand. Hood closed up tight with 4 fingers trapped.

I love the Redline struts.

 

[snoranger]

I replaced mine with a set from a forklift hood. (I repair forklifts for a living.) They are the same length, bigger diameter, and much stronger. I only needed one to hold the hood open!!!! Let me find the part number and I'll let you know. They only cost about $40 for the pair.

 

[projectPONY]

cool, LMK

 

[steve09812]

I replaced mine with a set from a forklift hood. (I repair forklifts for a living.) They are the same length, bigger diameter, and much stronger. I only needed one to hold the hood open!!!! Let me find the part number and I'll let you know. They only cost about $40 for the pair.

Pls let us know,


I went to scrapper and got a couple of misc. small parts I needed, But I checkedout some struts on a a few older cars and those old hoods are heavy most even heavier than my steel and the struts held em up fime, I found many struts were same style as our but longer . Since I didnt have any measurements with me at time, I just picked up a regular hood prop for the meantime

 

[snoranger]

I'm trying to work with my supplier to see if he'll drop ship. He's a wholesaler, so he normally wont sell retail. If not, I may pick up a few pairs and resell them. I'll let everyone know.

Kevin

 

[steve09812]

I'm trying to work with my supplier to see if he'll drop ship. He's a wholesaler, so he normally wont sell retail. If not, I may pick up a few pairs and resell them. I'll let everyone know.

Kevin

Any luck ? Also I was thinking if you can just pass on the part # to the ones u used, I/we can probably get em somewhere,somehow, but it would be very helpfull.