How To Replace Hood Support Struts?
Vehicle manufacturers started fitting prop rods to their vehicles in the 1970s. These rods were used in conjunction with hood hinges to replace the bulky compound hood hinge-and-spring assemblies that have been in use for a long time. This not only helped in saving a lot of space in the engine bay but also resulted in decreased weight and better fuel economy. Over the years, as vehicle design developed, prop rods became a mainstay for many vehicles. Today, modern cars are equipped with gas-assisted hood struts that help you lift the hood easily.
Hood struts are used to keep your car’s hood up and prevent it from falling while you carry out repairs and inspections. Apart from the hood of your vehicle, struts are also used at the rear on trunk lids and tailgates. It is frustrating when the hood doesn’t stay up and often dangerous if it falls on your head. However, replacing your old worn-out hood struts is not that difficult, even if you are a total beginner.
In this article:
3. How To Replace Hood Support Struts?
1 What Are Hood Struts?
A car hood strut, also known as hood shock, is a part that supports the weight of the hood as you lift it and is located underneath the hood of your vehicle. Filled with oil and gas (usually nitrogen), the pressure generated inside these struts is what keeps the hood from collapsing while it is open. The rod which comes out of the strut is connected to a piston that increases or decreases the internal volume, thus altering the pressure inside the strut. When the hood or tailgate is closed, the rod pushes the piston in the cylinder, increasing the pressure. When you pop the hood, this pressure is released, pushing the rod out that holds the hood up. Depending on the type of vehicle and the size of the hood, the struts may vary in size and length. They may also vary according to the mechanism, as some struts are designed either to help open the hood, support it when it is open, or both.
2 How Do Hood Struts Fail?
Over time, your car hood struts can fail or wear out with age. One of the first signs that you might notice is the increased effort required to lift the hood and the incapability of the struts to keep the hood in an open position. Years of usage and vibration cause these struts to wear out, and even a small leak in the strut can result in loss of hydraulic pressure. If you notice the car hood slamming down rather than gradually closing, or it slowly falls from an open position, it’s time to get the hood struts replaced.
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3 How To Replace Hood Support Struts?
To ensure reliability from your hood strut, get them replaced if you see signs of failure, wear and tear on the hinges and if they twist on loading. Replacing your old worn-out hood struts will ensure reliability and safety while working under the hood or loading luggage into the trunk of your vehicle. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to replace your hood support struts easily:
- Open the hood of your vehicle and fix a prop rod or a long piece of wood between the hood and the car frame so it stays open and doesn’t fall while you carry out the replacement.
- Identify a retaining C-clip situated at the top and bottom of the hood strut and use a flathead screwdriver to pry it open. On some designs, you can also use a long nose plier to make the task easy.
- Once the retaining clip is removed, the strut should be free from the hood. If it’s dirty or unable to move, a little additional force will help you pop it free.
- If the bottom of your hood strut is secured by a nut, use a spanner to disconnect the strut from the vehicle’s body. Now, the strut is disconnected both from the top and bottom and can be put aside.
- Connect the lower part of the new strut and hand tighten it.
- At the top, slide the strut onto the ball joint and use your finger to apply pressure until it snaps into place. Push the retaining clips to secure them properly.
- Note that your new hood strut is properly placed, tighten the nut at the bottom to finish the replacement.
- Repeat the same procedure on the other side of the hood and verify its proper operation by opening and closing the hood once or twice.
Once you have replaced and installed new hood struts, ensure to take care of them by wiping off the dirt from the center shaft periodically. Doing this can prolong the life of your hood struts and prevent the seal from damaging. Now you can work safely without risking injury from a falling hood. This guide helps you replace your hood struts easily, even if you have no mechanical skills. Furthermore, carrying out easy replacement tasks like these yourself helps you become more familiar with your car.
