any idea how long they last?
like the strong arm ones from advance auto
like the strong arm ones from advance auto
aftermarket hood gas struts
- Thread starter edwardh1
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Every gas hood/liftgate support I've ever changed was factory original and 10 years old.
I've never seen any of those cars 10 years later.
The rear lift gate supports in my sister's Jeep Cherokee lasted 13 years. Kira
I've never seen any of those cars 10 years later.
The rear lift gate supports in my sister's Jeep Cherokee lasted 13 years. Kira
I have used the Strong Arm units (purchased from Amazon) on 4 cars now. I usually replace when they become weak in the winter (especially on a really heavy lift gate like a minivan). Probably earlier then most replace
I sold one but two of the other three have been in use at least as long as the original, the other was just replaced this Summer so it's too soon (the wife's minivan in my sig .
I sold one but two of the other three have been in use at least as long as the original, the other was just replaced this Summer so it's too soon (the wife's minivan in my sig .
The ones on my Sienna liftgate are still functional, even in the winter after nearly 15 years. The multiple ones on my BMW though wear out at a regular rate despite being of Superior German Engineering
The hatch struts on my 1995 Ford Escort are the originals and still work.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
My dad was always burning through them on his Ford Fairmont. Cheap to the bone, he replaced them one at a time...
OT Next door neighbor about ~70ish in age, has a Chrysler LHS (large hood) struts had worn out several times and apparently are expensive to replace so he started using a piece of lumber to prop when he needed to look at/check engine. Long story short, one day wood strut slipped/failed, hood fell on front of head. Didn't show up immediately but one day he started talking crazy. Apparently severe concussion, lucky it wasn't worse like subdural hematoma, but he wasn't right for a couple months after that, ok now though. Sometimes it pays bite the bullet and pony up the cash.
If you do choose AAP for the struts, don't forget about the AAP online codes. Agree with eljefino though, shop price at all the places he listed.
My dad was always burning through them on his Ford Fairmont. Cheap to the bone, he replaced them one at a time...
OT Next door neighbor about ~70ish in age, has a Chrysler LHS (large hood) struts had worn out several times and apparently are expensive to replace so he started using a piece of lumber to prop when he needed to look at/check engine. Long story short, one day wood strut slipped/failed, hood fell on front of head. Didn't show up immediately but one day he started talking crazy. Apparently severe concussion, lucky it wasn't worse like subdural hematoma, but he wasn't right for a couple months after that, ok now though. Sometimes it pays bite the bullet and pony up the cash.
If you do choose AAP for the struts, don't forget about the AAP online codes. Agree with eljefino though, shop price at all the places he listed.
Originally Posted By: kschachn
The ones on my Sienna liftgate are still functional, even in the winter after nearly 15 years. The multiple ones on my BMW though wear out at a regular rate despite being of Superior German Engineering
I am glad to see you used capitals for Superior German Engineering!!
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The OEM maxima hood struts lasted 10 years.
The ones on my Sienna liftgate are still functional, even in the winter after nearly 15 years. The multiple ones on my BMW though wear out at a regular rate despite being of Superior German Engineering
I am glad to see you used capitals for Superior German Engineering!!
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The OEM maxima hood struts lasted 10 years.
On my mom's Jeep Grand Cherokee, the hood lift strut lasted only 3 years, and the trunk lift struts only lasted 5 years. The oem ones were made by a company called "AVM." I forgot what I used for a replacement.
So whatever replacements you get, make sure they are not made by AVM.
My mom also had an Eagle Summit, and the trunk lift struts lasted 4 years. I don't know who made them.
My fathers 2007 Pontiac G6 has failing trunk struts, that started back in 2011. I forgot who made them.
Dad had a 1997 Lexus ES300 with hood struts. He kept it 9 years, but by year 7, you had to lift the hood forcefully, or it would fall shut, usually on top of your head.
I don't know how you other guys got so much life from hood struts.
At a flea market back in 2009, I saw a 1986 Nissan Maxima station wagon with nothing wrong with the rear hatch. The writing on the struts was written almost entirely in Japanese which makes me suspect they were OEM, because Japanese cars were often like that back in the 80s. Maybe they were replaced with dealer parts, but who would know at this point? Anybody know who Nissan got their struts from? What really blew me away was that nearly every 1985-1988 Maxima was an awful car attached to a great engine.
If you are a pro in this business, you should have a rod that holds hoods open. Customers almost never have those struts replaced. However, ones for the rear hatch of a minivan or station wagon are frequently replaced, because if the hatch falls, you will get hurt very badly.
So whatever replacements you get, make sure they are not made by AVM.
My mom also had an Eagle Summit, and the trunk lift struts lasted 4 years. I don't know who made them.
My fathers 2007 Pontiac G6 has failing trunk struts, that started back in 2011. I forgot who made them.
Dad had a 1997 Lexus ES300 with hood struts. He kept it 9 years, but by year 7, you had to lift the hood forcefully, or it would fall shut, usually on top of your head.
I don't know how you other guys got so much life from hood struts.
At a flea market back in 2009, I saw a 1986 Nissan Maxima station wagon with nothing wrong with the rear hatch. The writing on the struts was written almost entirely in Japanese which makes me suspect they were OEM, because Japanese cars were often like that back in the 80s. Maybe they were replaced with dealer parts, but who would know at this point? Anybody know who Nissan got their struts from? What really blew me away was that nearly every 1985-1988 Maxima was an awful car attached to a great engine.
If you are a pro in this business, you should have a rod that holds hoods open. Customers almost never have those struts replaced. However, ones for the rear hatch of a minivan or station wagon are frequently replaced, because if the hatch falls, you will get hurt very badly.
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