FAST FACTS Vol. 1, Issue 28 – The Cannonball Run
The Real Outlawed Car Race That Inspired A Real Tribute Movie America’s secret illegal grand prix turned into a hit film Best friends set off
Here’s another great Fraser Engine Co. DIY (Do It Yourself) tip about changing the gas-filled struts that help to open and hold your hood, rear hatch, rear window, and trunk from slamming down on you.
The struts we’re talking about are gas-filled (usually Nitrogen), pistons, similar to shock absorbers, but these types of struts provide lift assistance and are tuned to keep the attached item suspended until closed manually.
Unfortunately, dirt and excessive heat can cause Nitrogen to leak from a gas-strut eventually causing failure.
If your hood or hatch doesn’t stay open during cold weather, it’s time to replace the struts. Nitrogen gets thinner in cold weather, and if it’s leaking from your struts, the reduction will cause this weakened behavior in cold weather but may possibly still operate normally during the following warm season. Be aware though, you should certainly replace them at the first sign of failure because the following cold season, they could fail completely.
Lift-support struts are available at any auto store. They come in two flavors, hood and tailgate. Be aware that tailgate struts are usually more expensive because of their length and the increased materials needed to make them.
If you’re not handy, just have the exact make and model of your vehicle and the part-store associate should be able to find the right item.
If you ARE handy, remove one strut and bring it to the store with you. Often there are different “grades” of struts capable of lifting different loads. A good practice is to get a strut that has a little stronger lift capacity (up to 30%) while being the same length. (Take a look at the Striker Engineering Hood Strut example photo to the LEFT.) The only caveat comes into play if you have a motor-controlled tailgate. We recommend having a professional do any work on this type of vehicle mechanism.
Making a quality choice at an auto-parts store will be limited, but ordering your “beefier” strut online is a breeze.
You don’t “need” to replace both, but it’s good practice. If you know, without a doubt, that only one strut is failing, you can do a single replacement.
For detailed instructions on how to perform a replacement, we would refer you to YourMechanic.com’s how-to article.
Special thanks to Striker Engineering for the photos used in this article.
The Real Outlawed Car Race That Inspired A Real Tribute Movie America’s secret illegal grand prix turned into a hit film Best friends set off
Part 2 – The Factory Five Mk4 Roadster This kit car is a dead-on replicate of a 1965 Shelby Cobra Project: 1965 Shelby Cobra Replica
Issue 13 • Engine & Transmission Tips Why Fraser’s remanufactured GM 5.3-liter V-8 Vortec engine is better than the original. General Motors’ 5.3 Liter V8
Issue 38 • Engine & Transmission Tips This is the Mopar 5.7L HEMI Magnum V-8 engine specifically remanufactured for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM vehicles
Issue 15 • Engine & Transmission Tips Every production car manufactured in the United States has a VIN, or vehicle identification number. This 17-digit code
Ford’s EcoBoost engines have gained immense popularity for their performance and fuel efficiency blend. For enthusiasts seeking to unlock the full potential of their Ford