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i well on my 87 iroc my hood and my hatch struts are shot they dont look broken but they just will not keep ethier of them up and i went to see how much hood struts are at shucks and god they want 25 bucks a piece! im not spending that much! so im just using a wood stick for the hood and my trunk but does anyone know if theres a way to fix these becaues iv heard this is very common. or is there a better place to buy them? thanks guys. or can anyone think of a better object that will hold up the hood atleast most of the way but is still some what fashionable? lol thx
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they can't be fixed. they have to be replaced. yes, they are a little pricey but worth it (to me at least) to know that you won't be having the hood or hatch fall on your head. you might price them on ebay or other parts stores.. you may find a little better price.
Your experience sounds pretty normal. When they go shot, they don't look any different. They just lose the pressure charge needed to hold up the hood. I used to replace a set every ~3 years. I too got tired of buying them.
Now, if I need to hold the hood up for any longer than checking the oil, I simply use a small set of saddle type u-clamps I got from the local hardware store.
They are very small and match the diameter of the strut shaft. I clamp them just under the strut tube with the nuts to the back. In the three years I've been using them at car shows, nobody has even noticed! I just keep the clamps in the console for when I need them. Your hood will never fall down. Just be sure to remember they are their before you try to close your hood!
Last edited by Iroctopless; 09-30-2009 at 12:47 PM.
I replaced my hood struts recently because I was tired of getting bonked in the head when trying to check my oil or work on the engine.
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Your experience sounds pretty normal. When they go shot, they don't look any different. They just lose the pressure charge needed to hold up the hood. I used to replace a set every ~3 years. I too got tired of buying them.
Now, if I need to hold the hood up for any longer than checking the oil, I simply use a small set of saddle type u-clamps I got from the local hardware store.
They are very small and match the diameter of the strut shaft. I clamp them just under the strut tube with the nuts to the back. In the three years I've been using them at car shows, nobody has even noticed! I just keep the clamps in the console for when I need them. Your hood will never fall down. Just be sure to remember they are their before you try to close your hood!
hey man freakin great idea! how much are the clamps just wondering and can you get them say at shucks? can you plz show me a pic of them on your car so i'll know where to exactly put them? thx man i think you just saved me a possible 100 bucks in the future!
Go out and spend a little extra to get the lifetime hood and hatch struts. Yes they are pricey, but if they ever go bad, take the receipt out of the console and exchange them for a shiny new pair.
Go out and spend a little extra to get the lifetime hood and hatch struts. Yes they are pricey, but if they ever go bad, take the receipt out of the console and exchange them for a shiny new pair.
no i couldnt leave the receipt in there thats like a whole extra ounce! that will slow her down WAY to much! just kiddin.
hey man freakin great idea! how much are the clamps just wondering and can you get them say at shucks? can you plz show me a pic of them on your car so i'll know where to exactly put them? thx man i think you just saved me a possible 100 bucks in the future!
I can't show you a pic of them in use. My ride is in storage while my family is moving to another town. But here's a pic of my strut with an arrow pointing to where to mount the clamp. It mounts on the shaft and simply prevents the wider part of the strut from sliding down. Be sure to put one on each side to prevent any chance of hood twist. The clamps cost me about $3 each and are available at pretty much any hardware store. They are only a little bigger than a quarter.
Last edited by Iroctopless; 10-01-2009 at 01:26 AM.
Reason: spelling
I can't show you a pic of them in use. My ride is in storage while my family is moving to another town. But here's a pic of my strut with an arrow pointing to where to mount the clamp. It mounts on the shaft and simply prevents the wider part of the strut from sliding down. Be sure to put one on each side to prevent any chance of hood twist. The clamps cost me about $3 each and are available at pretty much any hardware store. They are only a little bigger than a quarter.
ok thx just didnt wanna mess somethin up. so you sure the hood wont come on my head while poilishing the engine or anything? iv had that happen before and trust me doesnt feel good when a steel hood smashes your head from 4 feet above you. i though my head was smashed like a box lol. lucily no bleeding but dam could of been bad expecially if there was sharp metal.
ok thx just didnt wanna mess somethin up. so you sure the hood wont come on my head while poilishing the engine or anything?
With the clamps tightened (you'll need a little wrench for the nuts) the only way the hood would come down is if a helicopter landed on it! That's why you'll need to make sure you don't forget they're their before you try to lower the hood. You'll probably bend the hood or hinges before those clamps move.
Looks a heck of a lot better than a stick of wood or vice-grips. Also if you're not careful with vice-grips, they could warp or crush the strut shaft. The u-clamps won't.
Some people use a prop rod or bar(whaever its called) from a cavalier or sunfire. Our hoods are fairly large though so it might be better just to buy the struts. Plus, that stupid bar might get in the way like it does when working on a sunfire.
For the rears, I think there are 3 or so different models they sell. I think the most expensive one is the strongest and will last the longest. May even have to order that one, don't know if they always have them on the shelves.
Things like this though you have to think of it as an investment. Let's say your stranded in the middle of winter and it isn't something too hard you can fix under the hood. You forget your fence post at home and you got friends with you in the car who won't get out and help. You don't want to spend any more time than you have to tightening up a battery post with a hood lying on your back looking like an idiot. Some things can save you time and embarrassment and its sometimes worth it.
Rockauto used to have decent prices on the struts.
I think I go a long time without having to replace my struts. Cant remember the last time I replaced them on my 87...and when I wrecked it and got my 86, I just swapped them over since the 86 needed them. They're still working great.
They SHOULD last you a few years at the least... So whats wrong with investing $100 for at minimum 3 years? If that is bothering you, thirdgens might not be the best cars for you haha. I mean...Im not knocking anyone for their decision not to replace them. But its a wear item just like tires or brakes. Sooner or later, you'll need to replace them. Or just keep using the wood stick or clamps.
J.
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I think I replaced the ones on my '85 Camaro in 1997 and they still work fine. How about grabbing a hood support from a junker that swings up and locks into a receiver in the hood?
Just curious, how much would you pay for a good set of used hood struts anyways?
They SHOULD last you a few years at the least... So whats wrong with investing $100 for at minimum 3 years? If that is bothering you, thirdgens might not be the best cars for you haha. I mean...Im not knocking anyone for their decision not to replace them. But its a wear item just like tires or brakes. Sooner or later, you'll need to replace them. Or just keep using the wood stick or clamps.
Struts are not quite like other wear items in that if they fail, like tires or brakes, your safety is not in danger. You don't really "need" to replace them, but it is preferred to do so. Because they are replaced so often, but arn't nearly so critical, I finally got tired of changing them out. But, because I'm also a stickler for details, I did buy a spare set that's in my shop. If I ever feel the need to go 100%, I'll have them handy to install.
I like the winter scenario, except up here in Canada we all carry ice-scraper/snow brushed that make a perfect prop. Some of us even carry shovels! That also reminds me of another problem the struts have, as the temps get colder, especially when they drop way below freezing, even good struts can tend to fail due to low to no pressure. Good to carry a back-up prop anyway just in case. It's usually when conditions are at their worst, and when we really need them, that things fail.
Yeah when I but my bird the hood had the struts but a pair of vice grips wrapped around one of the struts didn't look the best but kept the hood up
Get you a small length of pipe (i can find out what works best, by asking a friend who has done this already, and possibly get pics...if needed) of slightly larger inner diameter that fits over the strut body.
Pull one end of the strut loose, slide the pipe up over the body. reattach the strut in the stock manner.
Hood down, it fits over the strut body. Open the hood & it slides down & "locks" in under the end of the body, alongside the shaft.
Simple slight lift of the hood when you wanna close it, pull the pipe out away from the strut body edge, and lower the hood.
As the hood shuts, the pipe will fit over the body & the hood shuts.
It stays in place ALWAYS, never taken out from under the hood, to be lost.
Go out and spend a little extra to get the lifetime hood and hatch struts. Yes they are pricey, but if they ever go bad, take the receipt out of the console and exchange them for a shiny new pair.
That also reminds me of another problem the struts have, as the temps get colder, especially when they drop way below freezing, even good struts can tend to fail due to low to no pressure. Good to carry a back-up prop anyway just in case. It's usually when conditions are at their worst, and when we really need them, that things fail. 
