Topic: Hood Strut Options

[7brendo7]

Hey guys,

My friend and I are students in University and don't really have the funds to get the hood struts replaced on our cars. I have a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta and he has a 1999 VW Golf. The struts are completely gone and we don't want to commit the type of money needed to get new hood struts.

Is there a cheaper option available for us to buy? We just don't want our heads to get smoked when we are under the hood of our car.

Also, no we will not use a piece of wood or stick lol

[Fobroader]

I was going to recommend the natural composite prop rod, ie stick....but have you tried junkyards or see maybe someone is parting out a similar car on Kijiji or something?? Are they really that expensive?

[Cord]

Also, no we will not use a piece of wood or stick lol

Too bad. That what old hockey sticks are for! 

[7brendo7]

I was going to recommend the natural composite prop rod, ie stick....but have you tried junkyards or see maybe someone is parting out a similar car on Kijiji or something?? Are they really that expensive?

For my car, I was quoted at $150 for the strut to be completely replaced. It's not super, outrageous amount of money I would just not pay that much.

I guess I can try Kijiji but I don't want to buy something and then have it not work

[Fobroader]

I was going to recommend the natural composite prop rod, ie stick....but have you tried junkyards or see maybe someone is parting out a similar car on Kijiji or something?? Are they really that expensive?

For my car, I was quoted at $150 for the strut to be completely replaced. It's not super, outrageous amount of money I would just not pay that much.

I guess I can try Kijiji but I don't want to buy something and then have it not work

HOLY CRAP!!! Look on ebay, hell, try www.rockauto.com .You shouldn't need to have these replaced by anyone, you can use a screwdriver to get them off and push the new ones on. If they are off of kijiji, they had better be cheap and ask the seller if you can see them in action.

[Arthur Dent]

Old 80s Subaru Loyale wagon used to have really nice adaptable hatch struts - probably not too many around now though.

[ArticSteve]

Is there a cheaper option available for us to buy? We just don't want our heads to get smoked when we are under the hood of our car.


Small vice grip.

[rrocket]

Go to a junk yard and find a used one.  $5-$10 I bet.

[rrocket]

Here's one for the Golf:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Hood-Gas-Lift-Support-Shock-Strut-For-VW-Golf-Jetta-BORA-1999-2005-/181193265512?fits=Year%3A1999|Make%3AVolkswagen|Model%3AGolf&hash=item2a2ff5d168&vxp=mtr


Here's one for the Jetta.  Looks to be the same for both.  Combine shipping and you likely save a few bucks.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Hood-Gas-Lift-Support-Shock-Strut-For-VW-Golf-Jetta-BORA-1999-2005-/181193265512?fits=Year%3A2002|Make%3AVolkswagen|Model%3AJetta&hash=item2a2ff5d168&vxp=mtr

[Firm]

I've done the vice grip thing before, sketchy. I'd rather use a hockey stick.
If it were me I'd take one off the car and then just walk around in a scrap yard checking the hoods and rear hatches of cars until I found a working one that matches up. There arn't too many different sizes around, and you could probably get away with something that's "close" in terms of length. My 84 Camaro and 85 T/A hood stuts are the same as older Dodge Caravan rear hatch struts.

[7brendo7]

I'm definitely going to take a trip to the junk yard at this point ahah. All of the suggestions, i think I should be able to find something there. I never even thought about that option.

Do you really think that they would have struts to fit my car??

I've heard horror stories about using vise grips. They slip and then I'm going to need stitches. Also don't vise grips kill the strut?

Thanks for all the help!

[onearmed]

Hey guys,

My friend and I are students in University and don't really have the funds to get the hood struts replaced on our cars. I have a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta and he has a 1999 VW Golf. The struts are completely gone and we don't want to commit the type of money needed to get new hood struts.

Is there a cheaper option available for us to buy? We just don't want our heads to get smoked when we are under the hood of our car.

Also, no we will not use a piece of wood or stick lol

Guys it's 30 bucks to buy and you can easily replace it yourself. I just did mine, piece of cake.

[7brendo7]

Thanks for all the good options

It is a little bit more expensive than the $30 for me. I guess I'm not the best at finding the best prices.

I found a cool little alternative though. My friend went into get his car serviced yesterday at out local NAPA, just a quick oil change. The tech obviously saw that our struts failed and he pulled out this clamping tool that went right around the strut.

It held the strut up and was applied literally within seconds. Obviously with all of the problems that we have been having with struts, he asked what the tool was. It is called ShockLock. It is about as big as the size of your palm and can apparently hold up any hood and adjust to any strut size.

My roommate came home and showed me their website on the computer. We ordered one right away. I'll let you guys know if it is all it is cracked up to be.

[Fobroader]

This is so much more complicated than buying new struts or going to scrapyard and finding some decent used ones.

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