hood support HELP - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

zwfly · 10-09-2008, 03:30 PM

Here is what I do for now (driver side)

I replace the stud and use the provide bracket. (passenger side)

and

I do not understand why new hood support cannot “shrink”. Do I need to tear anything off or remove some secure stuff?

Any advise is appreciated.

uibalnme · 10-09-2008, 03:46 PM

I'm guessing that by "shrink" you mean compressed or retracted. Well, they're not supposed to stay retracted. They're supposed to resist being compressed and remain extended. That's how the supports keep the hood up. You old oem supports can't resist compression anymore, and thats why they can't hold the hood up.

Just prop the hood up with a pipe or stick, and install the new supports. It's as easy as that.

zwfly · 10-09-2008, 05:27 PM

I mean at least , the OEM one can compress by hand.

frenum49 · 10-09-2008, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zwfly

I mean at least , the OEM one can compress by hand.

It compresses by hand because it is worn out. Gas strut hood supports are under pressure within the cylinder.

Mazeraski · 10-09-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenum49

It compresses by hand because it is worn out. Gas strut hood supports are under pressure within the cylinder.

^+1 Just prop the hood and install, like uibalnme said.

zwfly · 10-09-2008, 07:34 PM

Thank you guys, so it is plug and play?

My whole weight (170 lb/ 80kg) goes onto the new gas-charged support, still did not move, I guess there is something i need to remove to "active".

Anyone have installed this kind of stuff before?

uibalnme · 10-09-2008, 07:49 PM

Yes, they are plug-n-play. I've done it before. The supports are not supposed to compress that easily. Once they're installed they will hold up the hood, and with the added force you exert to colse the hood they will compress. I don't feel like going into the physics explaination on why they will compress once installed, they just will.

Think of it this way...

The hood struts are made to support a at least a 50lb hood. You're 170lbs. When you(or anyone) pull dowm on the hood, "X" amount of weight is added to what the supports are trying to hold up. That extra weight that the struts are not made to support, will force the struts to compress so you can close the hood.

That's the best way I can explain it to you. Trust me, there are no locks, safety stops, or anything keeping the hood struts from compressing with your body weight. Just install them and see for yourself.

gladis · 10-09-2008, 07:55 PM

I think I can explain it better. Remember the strut's location on the hood? Where your hands are you have a significant amount of leverage when you exert a force on it.

An analogy is a wrench. With the leverage the wrench gives you, you can tighten a nut much more than you ever can by hand. In the same way, the 5-10 lb of pressure you exert on the hood is multiplied by many times on the strut. If you need 360lbs to press it down 2 inches from where the strut is, you'd only need 10 lbs to press it down 6 ft away

It's a bit long, hopefully you get what i mean, lol.

Mr.Nutcase · 10-09-2008, 08:00 PM

The vise grips, that way i doit, on my car, as long as they are bad, it is ok

zwfly · 10-09-2008, 08:03 PM

Orz

Thanks a million for explain that. Your guys are my life savers.

I totally got it.

zwfly · 10-09-2008, 08:12 PM

“Give me a lever, a place to stand, and I will move the earth.” --Archimedes

uibalnme · 10-09-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gladis

I think I can explain it better. Remember the strut's location on the hood? Where your hands are you have a significant amount of leverage when you exert a force on it.

An analogy is a wrench. With the leverage the wrench gives you, you can tighten a nut much more than you ever can by hand. In the same way, the 5-10 lb of pressure you exert on the hood is multiplied by many times on the strut. If you need 360lbs to press it down 2 inches from where the strut is, you'd only need 10 lbs to press it down 6 ft away

It's a bit long, hopefully you get what i mean, lol.

+1

It's been a while since I've been in a physics class. I know how this kind of stuff works in my head, but I've always had trouble putting technical thoughts into words.

uibalnme · 10-09-2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zwfly

“Give me a lever, a place to stand, and I will move the earth.” --Archimedes

Well, for the hood/hood strut idea, you would have to move the load between the fulcrum the force. A 2nd class lever I think.