Hey everyone,
Kind of a stupid question but here goes...The hood shocks on my 88 Firebird are completly dead. Im tired of using a broom handle to hold up the hood so I got some replacement ones. The only problem is I cant install the new shocks because I cant get them to compress at all. I try to push down on them with all my might and cant get them to budge so that I can install them. Anyone else have any experience with installing these. Am I missing something obvious?
Thanks

 

Well, I know that when you buy them they come fully extended. When I replaced mine on the 82 camaro I just sold off. I opened the hood all the was, removed the old ones. Then as I put then on I had to open the hood a little more to put then on.
New hood or hatch struts cant be compressed by hand like that. If they can then they are no good. Maybe you can have a friend help by holding the hood up more as you put them on.

 

you shouldnt have to compress them to install them. have one of your buddys hold the hood up all the way while installing the first one. it should have enough strength to not need help on the second one.


...and just noticed kd5icr said exactly what i did after typing...