Replacing bonnet/hood gas struts
 

Four new gas struts arrived today (thanks Daniel).
Two for the boot (trunk) and two for the bonnet (hood).

I've fitted the boot struts easily.

Started on the front and am not sure how to pop the ball joint apart.
Before I start bashing with a big hammer or levering with a large screwdriver are there any tips from the audience please ?

Re: Replacing bonnet/hood gas struts
 

I unbolted mine completeley from the hood. If you need to retain the ball end that bolts onto the hood, I would suggest doing the same and working on it on a bench.

Once you have it on the bench it is a matter of lubricating and prying. There is a spring clip inside the end of the strut that holds the ball in place. It may have gotten rusty or crudded up over the years so spray something in there to help loosen it up. Then carefully pry the ball end out.

Re: Replacing bonnet/hood gas struts
 

Have done this several times and prying, twisting and pulling never worked for me.
However, two other methods did. Listed in order of ease.


1. If the struts (and ball) are already unscrewed from the hood and off the car, I threaded a nut onto the ball stud, tightened the nut in a vise and hit the strut sharply with a hammer (at the white + sign in the diagram, just below the ball and the ball popped out.

.......http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/atta...1&d=1392999795


2. Another way is to use a hacksaw or a Dremel wheel to cut a slot in the ball, almost down to the ball stud. Use a screwdriver in the slot and twist it until it cracks apart and pull the ball out.

Of course, there is buying a new ball stud from NAPA


It is always harder to get it off, maybe as a safety precaution. It is always much easier to pop the ball back into the new strut socket. Just hold the socket of the new strut over the ball and hit it with the palm of your hand, or a rubber mallet.

It takes a sharp impact to remove it; twisting, pulling and prying don't work.

CAUTION:
Some have tried to hit the strut with a hammer, just below the ball, while still attached to the hood. I advise against this as the impact could loosen the captive threaded nut, welded to the inside of the hood rail, that the ball screws into.

Re: Replacing bonnet/hood gas struts
 

Option 1 worked perfectly.

Helpful tips.

There is a black, paper (?) washer which holds the metal washer in place at the top where the ball joint is. Make sure you put this back on when refitted the new strut. If the metal washer falls off and disappears into engine bay you'll be grumpy (learnt from experience).

Have some help, balancing an SVX bonnet on your head while lining up the top ball joint bolt is difficult.

Thanks for the help, checking the oil levels will no longer be an ugly chore to be avoided.

Re: Replacing bonnet/hood gas struts
 

Where's the best place to get the struts for the hood? Mine don't stay up anymore.

Re: Replacing bonnet/hood gas struts
 

See post 34 of this thread
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...t=38819&page=4

2 each GSNI 2449-89 and the 4 ball studs ([4] BS-1002 ball studs) and nuts work better than original on our 95 SVX

search Hood and Trunk Strut Redo Redux if the link doesn't work

direct link to SPD
http://www.spdhardware.com/catalog/d...f-161c3b516027

and

http://www.spdhardware.com/catalog/d...c-3731c39aafd6

Re: Replacing bonnet/hood gas struts
 

Here is the thread to LetItSnows's strut redux thread. The information needed, along with instructions, photos and measurements, can be found on the second page of the thread.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...t=Redux&page=2

You can see that there are struts from SPD that fit and open the hood higher than OEM.

All part numbers are listed. This is what I did and it works flawlessly.


For the trunk struts, these are the ones to use. Slight modification to the mounting brackets, correct length and pressure, and stll allows the trunk to open 90°

http://www.autopartsbylou.com/lift-s...e=Rear%20Hatch