[Z06] Hood Strut question
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 305
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
SoCal Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12
Hood Strut question
A week or so ago i picked up an 04 Z06 commemorative edition Z16 with 3700 miles on it. I know it has the carbon fiber hood and it was extremely light but it felt excessively so or lighter on one side. So i got to looking at it today and the passenger side hood strut is missing.
I recalled in the trunk of the car what appeared to be a hood strut wrapped in saran wrap and taped up. So I pulled it out and unwrapped it and sure enough its a hood strut.
Now this could be a dumb question, I dont know since i have never had to deal with a hood strut. It appears new but it wont compress. I have turned it as though unscrewing it in the event there was some type of lock on it but no go. The strut will not compress. I figured if it was an old worn out one that it would be like a shock absorber and would easily compress.
My question is: Is a new hood strut that strong that it cant be compressed, even when pushing it on the ground or is it a bad one. They are not that expensive, $20 through Mid America or 23.99 at my local Napa. Anyone have experience with one of these?
I recalled in the trunk of the car what appeared to be a hood strut wrapped in saran wrap and taped up. So I pulled it out and unwrapped it and sure enough its a hood strut.
Now this could be a dumb question, I dont know since i have never had to deal with a hood strut. It appears new but it wont compress. I have turned it as though unscrewing it in the event there was some type of lock on it but no go. The strut will not compress. I figured if it was an old worn out one that it would be like a shock absorber and would easily compress.
My question is: Is a new hood strut that strong that it cant be compressed, even when pushing it on the ground or is it a bad one. They are not that expensive, $20 through Mid America or 23.99 at my local Napa. Anyone have experience with one of these?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 35,874
Likes: 1,601
From: Honolulu HI
A week or so ago i picked up an 04 Z06 commemorative edition Z16 with 3700 miles on it. I know it has the carbon fiber hood and it was extremely light but it felt excessively so or lighter on one side. So i got to looking at it today and the passenger side hood strut is missing.
I recalled in the trunk of the car what appeared to be a hood strut wrapped in saran wrap and taped up. So I pulled it out and unwrapped it and sure enough its a hood strut.
Now this could be a dumb question, I dont know since i have never had to deal with a hood strut. It appears new but it wont compress. I have turned it as though unscrewing it in the event there was some type of lock on it but no go. The strut will not compress. I figured if it was an old worn out one that it would be like a shock absorber and would easily compress.
My question is: Is a new hood strut that strong that it cant be compressed, even when pushing it on the ground or is it a bad one. They are not that expensive, $20 through Mid America or 23.99 at my local Napa. Anyone have experience with one of these?
I recalled in the trunk of the car what appeared to be a hood strut wrapped in saran wrap and taped up. So I pulled it out and unwrapped it and sure enough its a hood strut.
Now this could be a dumb question, I dont know since i have never had to deal with a hood strut. It appears new but it wont compress. I have turned it as though unscrewing it in the event there was some type of lock on it but no go. The strut will not compress. I figured if it was an old worn out one that it would be like a shock absorber and would easily compress.
My question is: Is a new hood strut that strong that it cant be compressed, even when pushing it on the ground or is it a bad one. They are not that expensive, $20 through Mid America or 23.99 at my local Napa. Anyone have experience with one of these?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 6
From: www.Z16.org North/West Pennsylvania
Some Z16 owners removed the passenger side because the hood is so light that you really don't need two struts. Removing it just makes it easier to close the hood. I would think the one in the trunk is the one that was removed and probably nothing wrong with it, they are pretty stiff. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 113
From: Los Angeles
There's so much more force being applied to the strut when it's actually attached, since the hood acts as a long-armed lever. Might be that it's supposed to be that stiff. That's my guess at least... I don't have any direct experience.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 305
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
SoCal Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12
Some Z16 owners removed the passenger side because the hood is so light that you really don't need two struts. Removing it just makes it easier to close the hood. I would think the one in the trunk is the one that was removed and probably nothing wrong with it, they are pretty stiff.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
Many of us with Z16 cars close one side at a time anyway since the lightweight hood doesn't always close both sides at the same time.
I've read on other forums about owners who just drop slam their fiberglass hood to close...only to later find cracks in the fiberglass composite at the point where the strut mounts.
Adjust the bumpers, lube the hinges and put a strut back on it. If it doesn't close both sides at the same time, join the rest of us who would rather not damage the oem carbon fiber hood just for the convenience of not having to walk around to the other side.
I've read on other forums about owners who just drop slam their fiberglass hood to close...only to later find cracks in the fiberglass composite at the point where the strut mounts.
Adjust the bumpers, lube the hinges and put a strut back on it. If it doesn't close both sides at the same time, join the rest of us who would rather not damage the oem carbon fiber hood just for the convenience of not having to walk around to the other side.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 305
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
SoCal Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12
Many of us with Z16 cars close one side at a time anyway since the lightweight hood doesn't always close both sides at the same time.
I've read on other forums about owners who just drop slam their fiberglass hood to close...only to later find cracks in the fiberglass composite at the point where the strut mounts.
Adjust the bumpers, lube the hinges and put a strut back on it. If it doesn't close both sides at the same time, join the rest of us who would rather not damage the oem carbon fiber hood just for the convenience of not having to walk around to the other side.
I've read on other forums about owners who just drop slam their fiberglass hood to close...only to later find cracks in the fiberglass composite at the point where the strut mounts.
Adjust the bumpers, lube the hinges and put a strut back on it. If it doesn't close both sides at the same time, join the rest of us who would rather not damage the oem carbon fiber hood just for the convenience of not having to walk around to the other side.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
My hood will usually close on both sides if I drop it from 24" or so, but I prefer to lower the hood to the latch and press down...repeat on opposite side.
Last edited by hotwheels57; Nov 14, 2011 at 11:11 AM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 734
Likes: 2
From: Mt. Airy MD
Many of us with Z16 cars close one side at a time anyway since the lightweight hood doesn't always close both sides at the same time.
I've read on other forums about owners who just drop slam their fiberglass hood to close...only to later find cracks in the fiberglass composite at the point where the strut mounts.
Adjust the bumpers, lube the hinges and put a strut back on it. If it doesn't close both sides at the same time, join the rest of us who would rather not damage the oem carbon fiber hood just for the convenience of not having to walk around to the other side.
I've read on other forums about owners who just drop slam their fiberglass hood to close...only to later find cracks in the fiberglass composite at the point where the strut mounts.
Adjust the bumpers, lube the hinges and put a strut back on it. If it doesn't close both sides at the same time, join the rest of us who would rather not damage the oem carbon fiber hood just for the convenience of not having to walk around to the other side.
I have seen cracks in C3 hoods from owners pushing down on each side to close so I decided when I had that one I would drop it closed as well. Never had a problem with that one either.
Whatever works I guess.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
I don't have the CF hood, but I'm one of those people who slams the hood not because I'm too lazy to walk to both sides, but out of necessity. Mine will not catch on the sides if I don't put some effort into to closing it toward the center of the hood.
I have seen cracks in C3 hoods from owners pushing down on each side to close so I decided when I had that one I would drop it closed as well. Never had a problem with that one either.
Whatever works I guess.
I have seen cracks in C3 hoods from owners pushing down on each side to close so I decided when I had that one I would drop it closed as well. Never had a problem with that one either.
Whatever works I guess.
Mark location of top of latch, Loosen the three bolts (10mm I believe)
Raise latch in 1/16" increments untill it latches with slight pressure to topside of hood directly over latch.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 305
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
SoCal Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12
I ordered a new hood strut this morning. I took the one i found in the trunk and set one end on the concrete while i tried to push or compress it. I'm 210 lbs and using all the weight i have i can barely get the strut to compress and it only compressed maybe 2 inches and it was slow going at that. So, new one will be in later this week.
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Winnipeg Manitoba
When I installed an aftermarket hood (lighter and less stiff than OEM). I needed to change out hood struts as they were too stiff for the new hood. I learned they were rated at 110 pounds, replacements were 65 pounds. Replacements were difficult to compress when not attached, OEM struts were impossible.
