Question about Hood Gas Strut Replacement
#1
Question about Hood Gas Strut Replacement
I just purchased a pair of replacement struts for my 91 XJS V12 convertible hood (bonnet.) I have not installed them yet, as it's still winter. I noticed I cannot compress them with my hands! Is this normal for new gas struts to be this stiff? I'm not Superman, but not weak either. Just wondering before I install them.
#2
The following 2 users liked this post by Grant Francis:
Don B (02-11-2019),
orangeblossom (01-28-2019)
#3
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Walnut Creek, California
Posts: 6,796
Received 2,399 Likes
on
1,880 Posts
I recently installed new ones on the hatch of my big Jeep. Old ones got too weak to support the heavy hatch. Not good with my head under it whole loading or unloading.
When I removed them, they seemed to still be quite strong!!! I could not collapse them!!
I installed the new ones, one at a time with the hatch open and supported for my safety.
It went well. Good "excuse" to add a small rack of smaller size Torx sockets for my 1/4" drive tools. A drill driver and a long extension feel like a pro at work!!!
So, Jag bonnet open, Outta work just fine!!!
Carl
When I removed them, they seemed to still be quite strong!!! I could not collapse them!!
I installed the new ones, one at a time with the hatch open and supported for my safety.
It went well. Good "excuse" to add a small rack of smaller size Torx sockets for my 1/4" drive tools. A drill driver and a long extension feel like a pro at work!!!
So, Jag bonnet open, Outta work just fine!!!
Carl
#4
The following users liked this post:
Don B (02-11-2019)
#5
Just wanted to chime in with the results of a quick experiment I did.
I replaced my boot struts a while back, and have the originals lying by my desk inside. Just tried to compress them. I can get them down to a couple of inches before fully retracted, but no more. So yes, there's a fair bit of power even in nearly 30-year-old struts that were replaced because at least one wasn't strong enough to keep the boot lid up. New bonnet ones? Maybe if your name was Bruce Banner and you were feeling angry....
I replaced my boot struts a while back, and have the originals lying by my desk inside. Just tried to compress them. I can get them down to a couple of inches before fully retracted, but no more. So yes, there's a fair bit of power even in nearly 30-year-old struts that were replaced because at least one wasn't strong enough to keep the boot lid up. New bonnet ones? Maybe if your name was Bruce Banner and you were feeling angry....
The following users liked this post:
Grant Francis (01-29-2019)
#6
The following users liked this post:
afterburner1 (02-13-2019)
#8
#9
Update***Update***Update
I replaced both struts, took about 10 minutes each side. You guys were correct...New struts are stiff and cannot be compressed by hand to test. Once installed, the fulcrum action while closing the hood does compress them. I also noticed that once closed, my hood/bonnet lines up better with even gaps. One strut was found to have lost all its gas pressure!
The following users liked this post:
afterburner1 (02-13-2019)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
1964Daimler
MKI / MKII S type 240 340 & Daimler
3
09-08-2015 11:54 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)