Hood Struts mod
12-10-2005, 07:46 AM
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 84
Hood Struts mod
The gas filled hood struts in my car is shot. I was working on the engine the other day and lucky for me when I turned around to get some tool I hear a loud slam noise when the hood dropped. I could get hurt from it. I want (/need) to replace the struts only to find out Courstesy Nissan carries them for $180.00 each. That is a bit much for my 91 max. I am sure I could get a better price at a local AutoZone but how long would those last me. My other cars just have a simple rod operated by hand that swing up to hold up the hood. I wonder if any one has made or swap from hood struts to the metal rod and if that would work. Thanks.
12-10-2005, 08:57 AM
#2
Internetautomart sells them for $40 a pair. i'd say go there....or just stick an icescraper under the hood :<--ghetto:
http://internetautomart.com/maxima/3rdgen.html
http://internetautomart.com/maxima/3rdgen.html
12-10-2005, 10:11 AM
#3
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My first option is looking for a rod operated by hand from another car model from the junkyard. DI do not know which one will fit yet. My last resort will be oder another set of replacement hood struts. You are right. Icescraper or better yet a 2x4 piece of wood is pretty safe but it does look ghetto and if I ever take my car to a mechanic he will not use the 2x4 and hurt himself.
12-10-2005, 01:31 PM
#6
another ghetto mod is a set of small vice grips. Lift hood up, clamp
vice grips to the piston/ inner rod at the base of the cylinder/outer rod. It works in a pinch and will save u a headache or better.Trust me I was changing oil at walmart and was working on a Sebring I think. I couldnt get the filter from lower bay so I went up top, laid down next to the car and put 1 hand on filter w/rag and other hand on the frnt 1/4 panel for leverage. (car had been in the shop hood raised for a few minutes already. Next I know the hood slammed shut on my entire hand, all the way down till it latched closed.
I got lucky, it hurt but hand still works. Worst part was I just had stitches in that hand less than a year ago so the tissue was still (hypersensitive) so they call it.
vice grips to the piston/ inner rod at the base of the cylinder/outer rod. It works in a pinch and will save u a headache or better.Trust me I was changing oil at walmart and was working on a Sebring I think. I couldnt get the filter from lower bay so I went up top, laid down next to the car and put 1 hand on filter w/rag and other hand on the frnt 1/4 panel for leverage. (car had been in the shop hood raised for a few minutes already. Next I know the hood slammed shut on my entire hand, all the way down till it latched closed.
I got lucky, it hurt but hand still works. Worst part was I just had stitches in that hand less than a year ago so the tissue was still (hypersensitive) so they call it.
12-10-2005, 02:15 PM
#7
[QUOTE=wolfpack_5150]another ghetto mod is a set of small vice grips.
...if only they made black powder coated vise grips....
OH yeah! I was stripping my parts car last year with craig brace. The frikn hood knocked me out for a second.
...if only they made black powder coated vise grips....
OH yeah! I was stripping my parts car last year with craig brace. The frikn hood knocked me out for a second.
12-10-2005, 04:25 PM
#11
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vansskaterfreek. That is exactly the location and how I used my 2x4 to hold up the hood the ghetto way. As I said before, I do not want any poor mechanic get hurt when I drop the car off for some repair in the future. Also it could be one of my younger relatives who likes to tinkle under the hood.
12-10-2005, 06:05 PM
#15
all the cars i've had that use the gas struts have the same problem. i carry a broom stick in my trunk and put it down behind the radiator and rest it on the cross member. i don't worry about mechanics because mine are so worn out that the hood won't stay up at all. but i am tired of the broom stick and just ordered struts from internetautomart.
i have a 97 max and the struts are shot on that car also. i can't do the broomstick the same way because it doesn't have a crossmember like the 3rd gen.
i have a 97 max and the struts are shot on that car also. i can't do the broomstick the same way because it doesn't have a crossmember like the 3rd gen.
12-10-2005, 06:22 PM
#16
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 34
The first time mine fell was when I was changing rotors. The distributor cap plastic cover was sitting on the intake when the hood fell. Now I have a small pimple on my hood and a cracked cover... 
I finally replaced the struts for about $35 or so each, that was several years ago and they are still holding up.
I finally replaced the struts for about $35 or so each, that was several years ago and they are still holding up.
12-11-2005, 03:53 PM
#18
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 180
Originally Posted by Cyclothymia
Yeah Mine are SHOT too but I have to keep it in perspective and wait till i get the body work done... then i will totaly be in the market for some
12-11-2005, 06:47 PM
#21
I have used a thin fiberglass rod I found. Sanded and painted a nice blue. Fits reall good into corner hood hole underneath front lip of hood. Bottom rests nicely against headlight bracket. Subsequently removed my hood struts. Made hood heavy as can be. Never realized how heavy the hood is without even the BAD struts!
12-11-2005, 07:40 PM
#23
Mine still work...kind of. Whoever had the car before me bent both hood struts so when you raise it all the way you have to push past some friction and when you let go it falls about an inch but the friction keeps it proped up.
12-11-2005, 08:42 PM
#24
I miss my VE
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NY
Posts: 2,553
It probably depands on where you live and how cold/hot it gets, but whats the average life expectancy on these things till time of replacment? I've bought two 3rd gens so far, and on both within 3-4 months, the hood struts started to fail. They work pretty poorly I noticed in cold conditions.
12-11-2005, 10:37 PM
#25
I made my own prop using a metal rod and the swivel piece that the struts use:
Higher res:
http://www.machzracing.com/pictures/hoodprop1.jpg
http://www.machzracing.com/pictures/hoodprop2.jpg
Higher res:
http://www.machzracing.com/pictures/hoodprop1.jpg
http://www.machzracing.com/pictures/hoodprop2.jpg
12-12-2005, 07:43 AM
#27
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mtcookson. That's what im looking for an idea like that. One question those. It seems like your hood is raised a bit hight (would it flip over to the top of the car?) I might mod my to something like that but with a shorter rod. Any way, I still looking a another place since it looks like a chalenge when one opens and lifts the hood and reachs over way back there to flip the rod stand. For a short guy with short arms it will be difficult. I am sure Shaq would not have any problem if he get this ghetto mod.
12-12-2005, 08:05 AM
#28
Originally Posted by mtcookson
I made my own prop using a metal rod and the swivel piece that the struts use:
Higher res:
http://www.machzracing.com/pictures/hoodprop1.jpg
http://www.machzracing.com/pictures/hoodprop2.jpg
Higher res:
http://www.machzracing.com/pictures/hoodprop1.jpg
http://www.machzracing.com/pictures/hoodprop2.jpg
12-12-2005, 10:20 AM
#29
Originally Posted by Dougn
mtcookson. That's what im looking for an idea like that. One question those. It seems like your hood is raised a bit hight (would it flip over to the top of the car?) I might mod my to something like that but with a shorter rod. Any way, I still looking a another place since it looks like a chalenge when one opens and lifts the hood and reachs over way back there to flip the rod stand. For a short guy with short arms it will be difficult. I am sure Shaq would not have any problem if he get this ghetto mod.
So far, I've not had any trouble with it coming out and the hood going further, even on windy days.
Originally Posted by 93turbo gxe
yeah mark im going to do the same as it makes it abit more easy to get to things. Mark By the way what is that big pipe underthe hood of your car and just what does it do. I dont think it suppose to be thier.
It'll look much better once I get the aftercooler put on (not to mention flow a hell of a lot better)... not sure when that'll happen though.
12-12-2005, 10:51 AM
#30
[QUOTE=mtcookson]I made my own prop using a metal rod and the swivel piece that the struts use:
This one is the only someone can call a "mod" An oar or a broomstick is not a mod----it's being a cheapskate.
This one is the only someone can call a "mod" An oar or a broomstick is not a mod----it's being a cheapskate.
12-12-2005, 12:13 PM
#31
Lives in a Maxima
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 399
For those who have replaced your hood struts (or have working ones), can you experiment a little and see if they will support the weight of your hood plus a cat?
At first mine would support the hood, but not the hood + cat. Now they don't even support the hood. If your good struts can support a cat on the hood, I'll get some. If not, i guess I go mod.
At first mine would support the hood, but not the hood + cat. Now they don't even support the hood. If your good struts can support a cat on the hood, I'll get some. If not, i guess I go mod.
12-12-2005, 05:28 PM
#38
Originally Posted by Dougn
Let call is 3x3/4 PVC pipe solution. I would try to make one and try it out but it's 30 minutes from Monday's night football so that will have to wait.
