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.
Starring two chicks and a 1966 Ford Thunderbird Convertible “It’s not about the journey, it’s about the destination…” (at least in this movie) Thelma &
From Anime To The Big Screen, This Incredible Race Car Came Alive The Real Mach 5, is actually a real Mach 5, right down to
Hey there, classic car buffs and Ford enthusiasts! Fraser Engines here, and we’ve got a real treat for you today—a deep dive into the legendary
Demolition derbies. A heart-pounding competition of twisted metal, roaring engines, and plumes of smoke, where scrap heaps transform into chrome gladiators. But beyond the pyrotechnics
In this article, we’re diving into the realm of supercars, and we’re not talking about just any supercar but a Ford legend that’s captured our
Issue 1 • Engine & Transmission Tip Welcome to Fraser Engine Company’s Under The Hood – A new resource for engine and transmission tips. Our
