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Hood strut: replacement and selection

When and why it is necessary to replace hood strut

The hood struts have no specified lifetime limit. Usually, the components are replaced in case of casing or seal damaging, mechanical deformation or rod jamming. Often the struts break down as a result of seal elasticity loss, which happens in course of time, or opening of non-warmed up hood at low environmental temperature.

The main signs of bonnet strut breakage are traces of oil leakage on its casing, inability to hold the hood in opened position, jamming of the hood in closed or half-closed position.

The components should be replaced in pairs. This can be performed on your own. Note that before installation you need to fix the hood using a support, and pump the struts. If everything is done right, the bonnet will be fixed in opened position and open and close smoothly without jerks and extra efforts.

How to select hood struts

The hood struts differ by mounting requirements: some can be installed with rod downwards only. Others, which have no strict installation order, stop the hood smoother.

The struts vary according to the operating medium type. So, there are three component types: gas, oil and gas-oil struts. The advantage of the oil struts is the more affordable price. The considerable defect of this spare parts type is intolerance to negative temperature. The gas hood springs maintain good operability at low air temperature. At the same time, the gas hood struts are the most expensive. The gas-oil hood struts are considered to be the compromise choice by price and ability to operate in even extreme climatic conditions.

In order to make the components serve long, you need to select hood struts of well-known automotive manufacturers. They are such firms as Ridex, Johns, Vaico, Febi Bilstein and others.

During selection of the hood struts consider the rod size. Its necessary length can be specified in the car technical documentation or by measuring it.