Changing out gas struts on hood support

Joined
Dec 31, 2017
Messages
20,472
Location
SE British Columbia, Canada
My beater 2005 Taurus uses gas struts to keep the hood up. I ordered a set of Schnorkel struts from Amazon. Here are few photos. A ski pole helps to keep things safe. This is super easy. No need to pay a mechanic for this. Enjoy.


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1) How much were they in Can$?
2) Post pictures of the struts' autopsy.
3) Have a used oil analysis done on the fluid of the old struts. It's good to know if they failed due to frothing or 'little plastic bits'.
 
1) How much were they in Can$?
2) Post pictures of the struts' autopsy.
3) Have a used oil analysis done on the fluid of the old struts. It's good to know if they failed due to frothing or 'little plastic bits'.
Haha. No thanks but you can translate the Deutsch if you want. The cost was about $30.00 CDN. Rock Auto could not compete with their courier costs.

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^ Except that manufacturers choose to locate in China because of the cost cutting and cheaper labor. Bit different than the Space Program.

Not the '80s at all, I'm hard pressed to think of anything (besides iphones and few other electronic/computing components) I've come across made in China, that isn't made at least as well and usually better, elsewhere. Even with electronics, I don't want Chinese electrolytic capacitors in anything that needs to have a long lifespan. The issue to me (besides US manufacturing losses) is guessing whether the quality difference is worth the price difference.

As it relates to hood struts, on my oldest Ford I replaced them at around 8 years old, and can't remember where the aftermarkets were manufactured, but they have only lasted about 3-4 years each set before they had to be replace again, and again, and again. Luckily I scanned the receipt that states lifetime warranty because that thermally printed receipt faded to white, and same product no longer has a lifetime warranty. At least they only take a couple minutes to replace.
 
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In my vehicle that has the struts fail every 3 years, I keep a baseball bat that can be used for a hood prop... among other uses. I also have vice-grips in the glovebox, can use those to clamp down on the strut rod to keep it up. I considered adding a real hood support rod, but the Autozone where they have a lifetime warranty is just up the street, pass by there every other day.
 
I'll report back Mr. Atikovi. I truly hope they do a good job on the high pressure seals in their space station that has been orbit for 689 days as of today. Make sure you are not stuck in the 80's. How's that Mexican space station doing?
The ones building space station parts aren’t the ones building your gas struts. False equivalence.
 
There's a tool that can be purchased from several sources and manufacturers that are designed to hold the hood up when you're stuck with weak struts. Depending on your circumstances, they may be a good option. Here's but one example: Click Here
 
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