Hood struts
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Hood struts
On my 05 with the hood open it only takes the slightest breeze to blow my hood shut, luckily I've caught it before it slammed shut. Are all C6's like that, or do my hood struts need to be replaced? I'd hate to have to work on my car for some reason out in the open and have the hood keep coming down on my head.
#2
Team Owner
yeah, they suck.....I had to replace mine but you know what hurts? the rear hatch coming down on you.....those struts suck too
#3
Melting Slicks
They need to be replaced. I can have mine open outside and work on it all day long. Hang a drop light form it, bump into it. No problems. The wind would have to be pretty strong to make it close.
#4
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Thanks for the reply's, that's kinda what I figured. Any recommendations on which ones to get ? I'd prefer to buy locally from NAPA, O'Reilly's, Autozone etc .I personally don't have to worry about the rear hatch so much as my car's a convertible.
Last edited by madsonp; 07-11-2019 at 11:48 AM.
#6
Le Mans Master
I replaced mine and got them on Amazon. No issue and I really believe they are much stronger then the originals.
#8
Race Director
Member Since: May 2006
Location: SOFLA
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2016 Corvette of Year
2015 C6 of Year Finalist
Got mine on Rock Auto cheap. They are pretty strong.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...t+support,1404
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...t+support,1404
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ojcrane (07-28-2019)
#9
Race Car Tech
I've replaced both the hood and hatch struts on my 2006. I bought the hood struts from Amazon, and the hatch struts from Rock auto. Both have stronger tension than the original new OEM struts.
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colalucg@gmail.com (05-16-2020)
#11
Safety Car
Thread Starter
O'Reilly's has them in stock, going to pick them up here in a little bit, and swap them out, I'll report back this evening on the outcome.
#12
Racer
Ive had the hood on mine slam shut with a stiff wind at car shows down on the MS Gulf Coast.....if you just want it to stay open during windy shows but aren't in the mood to drop the few bucks on new hood shocks........take a few pieces of black rubber fuel line, (about 4” long) split it down the middle, snap it over the silver part of the shock piston...its firm enough to keep the hood up under stronger winds and pretty unnoticeable when admiring an engine compartment.
Last edited by LarryMow; 07-11-2019 at 11:15 PM.
#13
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Jan 2016
Location: New Mexico
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2018 C6 of Year Finalist
^ I bet a zip tie would work too.
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LarryMow (07-13-2019)
#14
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Got them installed and there's a big difference from the old ones, however I could see where a real strong wind could still blow it closed, but it's much better. 60-70 mph winds aren't uncommon here so for that reason I like LarryMow's suggestion about the fuel line, it's something you could keep in the car without taking up much room, I might take it a step further and try some small PVC pipe cut in such a way that would kind of clip on. Thanks everyone for the reply's.
#16
Racer
My '05 hatch struts still good (and working almost daily) but had to replace the hood struts that did not last long. No big deal but compared to struts in other vehicles I own not sure why the hood struts failed so soon.
#18
Melting Slicks
They are gas pressurized, when the gas leaks down they won't stay up, worse at low temperatures (shrinkage). Happens to every brand of car. I wouldn't call them crap if they work at all after 15 years. I've had to replace them after 10 years on some cars.
#20
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Jan 2016
Location: New Mexico
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2018 C6 of Year Finalist
It's from the constant opening and closing by guys who think it's helpful to open the hood after they drive "to help cool the engine down."