Do you care if a vehicle's hood has a prop rod?

[John105]

Ah 2 years has passed, didn't want to start a new thread. I think this has to be a common cost cutting measure by now. I was watching a review of the Accord Sport Hybrid, and as Joey raised the hood, he didn't zonk. He just let out a huge sigh/gasp. I've still never owned a car that had one, gonna keep trying not to

How much is truly saved, at the mfg level, $10? $20? More? Forget about the list price on a OE replacement, I mean at the supplier to mfg level. Can't be that much. I mean they jack up the destination charges more than $500/yr they can easily recoup it.

 

[D60]

Funny, one of my pet-peeves is how many prop rod plastic bushings have failed. Toyota and Nissan are particularly bad. Take a reliable metal rod and add a weak link. Yes, typically they still work but you gotta stick your tongue out and rotate the rod just so.....

My other pet peeve is rods that store on the underside of the hood like my JL and a '19 Rogue I service.

 

[Oillover]

Funny, one of my pet-peeves is how many prop rod plastic bushings have failed.

+1
I've resorted to replacing the bushings every oil change.

 

[Speedy3861]

Been driving Hondas for probably 40 years, mostly Civic, a few Accords, CRV's and Acuras, all in memory had prop rods, never had a bushing problem. A few models the position of the rod made checking the oil a bit difficult. Beats replacing hydraulic cylinders every few years. Sometimes the simplest solution is preferable. Our current HRV has a fairly heavy hood, i don't think cylinders would last long.

 

[Propflux01]

I haven’t had too many issues with prop rods until I bought my CX5. I’m 6’ tall, average build. I prop the hood on that rod and if I move forward the hood will crack me right between the eyes. Gotta bend down just to get close enough the see the dipstick. So I bought some USA-made gas charged struts that open the hood about 8 more inches upward. The world rotates normally now.

 

[IndyIan]

The Outback is my first vehicle with hood struts, its also an aluminum hood, so pretty light.
I can't say I've ever noticed the prop-rod on the Focus every being in the way and I've spent some time under the hood on that side. I did have to replace the poly bushing once though. ~$5 off of ali-express got me 3.

 

[UncleDave]

My dad 25 years ago considered gas struts to indicate quality, as opposed to vehicles that had prop rods.

Well, I haven't had a car with a prop rod. My early cars had springs, and then I graduated to gas struts.

All of my vehicles today, believe it or not, have gas struts for the hood, and the trunks, and hatch. No rods.

I think the fact that I said trunks, tells you we don't have new cars. That may have been a mid 2000's thing. I like it--imho it allows the trunk to be larger as no large arms for the hinge mechanism.

Anyway, I've seen online that there are vehicles probably pushing 55-60k that have prop rods. I personally don't like them. Do you?

Occams razor.

I'd rather have the simpler lighter weight solution thats guaranteed not to fail or need replacement parts regardless of the price of the car.

Especially as the guy that ends up buying and replacing said parts.

 

[John105]

Been driving Hondas for probably 40 years, mostly Civic, a few Accords, CRV's and Acuras, all in memory had prop rods, never had a bushing problem. A few models the position of the rod made checking the oil a bit difficult. Beats replacing hydraulic cylinders every few years. Sometimes the simplest solution is preferable. Our current HRV has a fairly heavy hood, i don't think cylinders would last long.

Not trying to be funny, but why wouldn't gas struts last? They last years, but no, they don't last the life of the vehicle. Even high end tool chests have struts. I guess I was brainwashed by my dad, he said quality cars have them lol We really do pick things up from parents, habit-wise. I would not purchase a Golf R because it has a prop rod, that's how serious I am about it. And now, toyotas I believe over $70k have them. Makes me wonder if Lexus do or not.

 

[wemay]

Nope. Doesn't bother me.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I keep an adjustable hood prop in the corner of the garage for quick access. ya never know...
Kinda like this but older...

 

[UncleDave]

Not trying to be funny, but why wouldn't gas struts last? They last years, but no, they don't last the life of the vehicle. Even high end tool chests have struts. I guess I was brainwashed by my dad, he said quality cars have them lol We really do pick things up from parents, habit-wise. I would not purchase a Golf R because it has a prop rod, that's how serious I am about it. And now, toyotas I believe over $70k have them. Makes me wonder if Lexus do or not.

My Lexi had them. If I recall so did my 95 Maxima.

Both needed replacing at about 10 years due to the freeze fry nature of cal/arizona extreme weather.
My penchant for going under the hood more often than most guys likely contributed to a bit earlier demise than many.

There is no doubt a self lifting self holding hood with 1 finger pressure is a premium luxurious solution vs a prop rod.
That said I'll take the prop rod as long as it's an aluminum hood.

Where pistons make a worthwhile difference to me is in a trunk.
Rather than a swingarm that intrudes into the space sometime in the case of the trunk being full possibly damaging items,
I prefer a gas piston as it typically does not intrude into the space but tucks away at the hinge.

 

[Arc]

My dad 25 years ago considered gas struts to indicate quality, as opposed to vehicles that had prop rods.

Well, I haven't had a car with a prop rod. My early cars had springs, and then I graduated to gas struts.

All of my vehicles today, believe it or not, have gas struts for the hood, and the trunks, and hatch. No rods.

I think the fact that I said trunks, tells you we don't have new cars. That may have been a mid 2000's thing. I like it--imho it allows the trunk to be larger as no large arms for the hinge mechanism.

Anyway, I've seen online that there are vehicles probably pushing 55-60k that have prop rods. I personally don't like them. Do you?

its been years since the hood strut went out on my jeep. I still use a piece of pipe for a prop rod. I can never remember to order one.

 

[Arc]

Broom handles work great.

Yep

 

[Arc]

Give me a prop any day. Worst time to find out that the gas struts starts failing is when you're hunched over the engine bay during the Winter and after a minute the hood falls down on your neck/back.

 

[John105]

I know I’m the oddball here….

Bro, check out my new C8 ZR1X! I just hit 200+, that trooper was long gone!

Me: Really? A prop rod?

 

[rstcso]

Some vehicles have two positions which you can secure the prop rod. The first position is regular and the second allows the hood to be basically perpendicular to the engine. I tried to open to the second position, but the garage door above kept me from doing so. I wasn't going to pull the car out for the picture (and risk contributing to fuel dilution ). I'd be hesitant to use the bottom position outside on a windy day.

 

[Carmudgeon]

I'm probably repeating myself, but the best arrangements I've encountered have been in a couple Volvos.

No rods or struts of any kind. Hinge assemblies used springs to counterbalance the weight of the hood, not unlike a garage door. Simply using the same principle that some trunk lids employ.

And on the 700 series, flipping a couple latches allowed the hood to stand vertically at 90º in "service" position.

Does require more space, and requires more engineering effort to integrate into the body, but works better than anything else.

Which reminds me, need to order a new strut for the Audi, which gave out after 15 years by puking its guts. Have seen them weaken before, but not fail in such a manner.