Hood supports
 

I'm wondering out loud if the new Tein hood supports for the WRX would/could work for the SVX.
If so it looks like they'd be a cheaper option than the o.e. parts.

what do they look like? I found some replacements at Napa but just noticed they are a little weak. I'm statrting my search for a cheap stronger replacement. They don't hold my hood up when it's parked facing down hill. But who ever works on their car on a hill !!! ;)

http://jnjassociates.biz/v-web/produ...ein%20hood.jpg
This is the first pic I found. It looks like there are also some longer ones made by Redline.
The Redline ones are considerably less $$.
Look HERE under Products: Exterior

Here is a much cheaper alternative if your struts are marginal:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUBAR...QQcmdZViewItem


http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...cess/30066.jpg


http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...cess/30065.jpg

Thanks. I like the supports but also like the idea of not having to mess with them. I just picked up a beefier pair of struts from Napa. I'll let you guys know if they rip the hood off. :o

I just slit a hose lengthways and cut it to the proper length to go around the strut (like the fancy chrome one pictured earlier except free). When not in use I wedge it between the fender and the fuse box cover.

O.K. Got the beefy struts on and they work great. Only issue is it takes a little extra force to get the hood to start going down. I'm sure this will wane as time goes by. Hopefully I'll never have to buy another pair. :)

Please share the part numbers and prices with us.

will do. Just forgot to bring the package with me. also, there is another slight mod I did'nt notice until I got home. The ball socket on one end (end that attaches to hood) was smaller then the original. I had to pull the old socket from the original replacements I bought. I'm hoping I have time to go back by the store and find another similar strut with the larger ball socket that would fit right into the how to I wrote up. More to follow ...

Sorry for taking so long. I was hoping to get by napa and find a better alternative but have'nt had time. This is what I used. Napa Part# 819-5320. These are very stiff. They would probably keep the hood up in reverse at 50 mph. In fact you have to apply more then normal force to get the hood started down. Once it gets started down its no problem. :)

Anyway, I took a picture of the ends on the strut. One is larger then the other. The large one was held on by a cir-clip. The small end was threaded on. Unfortunately, you will need the larger end to attach to the hood. On the set I bought the large and small end pieces were not interchangable. Soooo...you would need to find a more suitable set of struts. Some with the same length as these, but with either both threaded end or both cir-clip ends. You'll see what I mean if you go check them out.

Or, you could just use the ones I wrote wabout. see my locker. These are O.K. but are still a little week. They hold the hood up great except for when the car is one a hill with the nose pointed downhill :(

Good luck. :o

Edit-added pic

These new beefy struts have worn in now and the hood is much easier to get down then before. They are perfect !

O.K. here's the low down on the hood struts.

Go to the parts counter at your local NAPA. Have them look the struts up in their catalog. Here are the specs I recommend.

Part# 819-5581 seems to be ideal but I have not tried it. However, I know it has more force then the original part I used and probably a little less stiff then my current one. I wish I would have talked to the guys at the counter before ordering.

Length = 11 inches
Stroke = 6 inches
Force = around 100-120 lbs
End type = A

The how to procedure in my locker still applies regarless of the part as long as they have end type A. :)

I just did the hood struts on my car. I used the 819-5581 parts as recommended. They work great. They are about an inch shorter than the stock struts, so the hood doesn't open quite as far.

Cutting the brackets off of the old struts was quite a job. Other than that, no real problems. Thanks for the great instructions.