My bonnet falls down

savage1987 · #1 25-05-2005, 04:55 PM

i was working under the bonnet of the family VT yesterday cleaning random bits when the gas struts just let the bonnet come down

i checked around, there was no extra weight on the bonnet or anything, i think they're just old

anyone got any pointers on what to look out for? aftermarket or genuine?
i'm feeling aftermarket (prolly a lot cheaper) but will i have fitment issues?

and for the last week i've been wondering who's been dropping the hood when i wasn't looking...

cheers
sam

snafu · #2 25-05-2005, 05:56 PM

I would prolly just get the struts regassed... A lot cheaper in most cases... and most places do 12 months warranty...

cheers,
steve

savage1987 · #3 25-05-2005, 06:49 PM

yep but it's only 12 months

the old struts lasted for like 7 years
new ones wouldn't be that much more expensive anyway...

i was more wondering if i buy new struts do i have to get a particular
size or anything? and will the new ones use the same mounting points as
the old ones did? (or should i just get a panelbeater to fit em forme??)

chippy · #4 25-05-2005, 08:15 PM

The regassed ones are just as good as new ones and about a third of the price and thay come to you and fit them on the spot. I put them in one of my old car and i had them for about three years before i sold the car and thay still work to this day two years on

savage1987 · #5 26-05-2005, 12:20 AM

ok
that's interesting, may re-gass them then...

thanks, i'll see what i can find

cheers
sam

CUL8TER · #6 27-05-2005, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savage1987

i was working under the bonnet of the family VT yesterday cleaning random bits when the gas struts just let the bonnet come down

i checked around, there was no extra weight on the bonnet or anything, i think they're just old

anyone got any pointers on what to look out for? aftermarket or genuine?
i'm feeling aftermarket (prolly a lot cheaper) but will i have fitment issues?

and for the last week i've been wondering who's been dropping the hood when i wasn't looking...

cheers
sam

SAM
GET YOUR PARTNER TO HOLD THE BONNET UP (STANDING AT THE SIDE) YOU STAND IN THE MIDDLE AT THE FRONT MAKE A NICE STRONG FIST AND STRIKE THE STRUT WITH YOU FIST JUST BELOW CENTRE (WHERE ROD ENTRES COMMPRESSION CHAMBER DO THIS ON BOTH SIDES THIS WILL PUT A BIT OF TENSION ON STRUTS AND STOP THEM FROM CRACKEN YOU ONE ON THE SCONE THIS IS AN OLD INGIN TRICK (CAR YARD TRICK )AND WILL GET YOU BUY FOR AA GOOD 12 MONTHS DONT BUY REGASSED AS YOU MAY JUST END UP WITH YOUR OLD ONES BACK(AND SLIGHTLY BENT)

savage1987 · #7 28-05-2005, 12:09 AM

hey hey

i might just try that
if i break em, prolly won't, but i haven't lost anything even if i do - they didn't work anyway

i've since figured out that they only collapse on cold days/nights. really cold, will last about 20 seconds before falling down

hot day ---> no worries

and yea cheers you just stopped me buying regassed ones...

cheers
sam

BowTieGQ · #8 28-05-2005, 12:58 PM

You actualy don't hit them. There is a small clip on the end. Poke a small screwdriver under the clip and lift it a little. Then pull strut away from ball. If clip comes off, so what. Push it back on. Just remember to have someone hold the front of bonnet.