Gas Springs for Hood

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R

Roger

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Sep 11, 2006
Threads
27
Messages
45
Location
Washington
Website
www.rogermgreen.com
On the FJ60 forum folks have been replacing there rear tailgate window gas springs from a company called McMaster-Carr. They carry many size and powers of gas springs. My 2003 LC hood will not stay up. Was considering ordering a set of gas springs from this company but did not know the size, power and if these would work or not. Was hoping someone here has solved this problems and has the answers. Roger
 
I picked up two a few days ago from Advance Auto. About $70 for the set.
 
Toyota hood struts from Cdan is about 60 bucks a piece after mud discount. I picked up a pair recently. The OEM struts are nice because they seem to have a soft open sort of release, where as you get to the top of the hood range, they slow the rate of opening, allowing the hood to sort of ease into the final position. I don't know if the aftermarket ones will do this as well, but I thought it was worth mentioning as a reason to go OEM.

I never experienced this feature, as the hood struts were shot when i got the truck.
 
I bought a set of StrongArm 4361 a year and half ago, $17 each. Still work great. They are just a hair shorter than OEM, when extended.
 
Also bought a pair from Mr Lou on Ebay and they fit and work absolutely perfectly. Just pop the latch and lift the first foot or so and the struts do the rest. Nice and smooth the rest of the way up. Super easy installation too. Don't remember the cost as it was over a year ago, but it was in the same ballpark as the rest.
 
I also bought from Advance Auto 2.5 years ago. Could not be better. Search for their 20-30% off internet orders.
 
Put some StrongArm's under the hood and rear lift gate and work great. No more hood closing when I am underneath, scaring the sh*t out of me.
 
I've need to change-up as well.

Scared the S*** out of me as-well when hood came down while I was washing the engine. No one was around, when, my gloves and most finger got caught between fender & hood near windshield. Had to count my fingers on that one, all good.
 
fixin to buy 2 strong arm hood support lifts on e-bay for $21.50 for both and free shipping.will reply when i gettum on,oh lifetime war.also
 
A set of these for some extra safety. I usually clamp one side with a vise grip if it's windy out or I'll be under the hood a long time.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BVL7QJK/?tag=ihco-20

71EvBnMQ0BL._SY355_.jpg
 
Thanks TXLX - haven't seen those before. May have to get a pair.
 
stevierayray said:
fixin to buy 2 strong arm hood support lifts on e-bay for $21.50 for both and free shipping.will reply when i gettum on,oh lifetime war.also
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ok,i ordered 2 strong arm hood lift supports.they came yesterday.got them out of mailbox and the box they came in did not say strong arm.it said (ezzy lift)
made in china,which kinda thru me for a loop.so i go on e-bay and read item description again,and it said (brand,strong arm).well they aint strong arm,they are ezzy lift.well i went ahead and put them on,5 minute job,and they amazed me.hood goes up with very little force,but you have to give a little force to close the hood.what the heck,if they last i am happy,if they dont,they have a lifetime warranty.i have all paper work printed out just in case.i also e-mailed the guy i got them from and told him he needed to modify his item descriptiom,the end.
 
I just bought OEM hood struts from web wholesaler. They are about $65 each.
 
khoopes said:
I just bought OEM hood struts from web wholesaler. They are about $65 each.
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i dont think there is anything OEM,everything is aftermarket.just like autozone,advance,napa,oreillys.all is aftermarket parts,no OEM parts at any of these places.just like the mighty lift supports that autozone sells,AVS in MARION,SC makes them.it pays to research.
 
I generally like & prefer OEM Toyota parts but there are a few parts, hood/hatch gas spring support struts included, where OEM = super premium price without performance/longevity benefit. Replaced struts on my '99 fore and aft a couple years ago with OEM Toyota and they're already sagging.

Ditto for starters and alternators (rebuilt): OEM Toyota = No bueno (my experience...as always YMMV :))
 
My milage has varied from that of spressomon. I replace hood and tailgate struts with OEM and they have lasted a long time. Did this on my 60-series, and on my 80-series when each was 10 yrs old, and never replaced again. Same thus far for both my 100-series trucks.

That's my experience....

Same for starters and alternators. I've used OEM with very good results. I guess I've been lucky.
 
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