Hood lifts/struts - up or down

[Donald]

i bought 2 lifetime warranty hood lifts for my 2001 Jeep Cherokee Laredo. Not a bad price and I was tired of holding up the hood with my head.

The new lifts did not say to install up or down. Just install same as original. The original ones had the body down and the piston up. So thats the way I installed them. As I was going to toss out the old ones I saw they had an arrow pointing down as if they had been installed upside down from the start.

The 2001 Jeep has 58K on it so I assume no one has replaced the lifts before. Its certainly possible someone already replaced the lifts upside down. Or they were installed at the factory upside down. Or the markings on the old ones mean nothing.

FWIW - my old Camry has the body up and piston down.

Maybe I am worrying about nothing.

Should I spend less time on BITOG.

 

[tom slick]

Direct from a manufacture's site:

"Gas springs should be installed with the piston rod downwards, to ensure best damping quality."

I don't think that really makes much difference in a hood lift application because they are not in continuous use. They just have to hold the hood up, not constantly dampen motion.

 

[Bill in Utah]

I was told to keep the body up as it keeps the seal always covered with fluid.

This is so it will not dry up.

But when they are stowed, some of them are level...

Everything I've ever seen or had has them with the body up and seal down.

Quote:
Should I spend less time on BITOG.


I sure should... The days of people helping others here are going going gone to be replaced with "if it is expensive, thats all you need".

"The more you pay the better" .

"You get what you pay for"...

Take care, bill