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  #1  
Old 05-17-2011, 11:03 PM
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SVeXy96 SVeXy96 is offline
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Help with factory hood strut install...

Soooo...I just got 4 new hood struts for 2 of my SVX's. I have my hood tied to the roof of my carport and took one of the struts off, but soon realized I have no idea how to remove the bolt that holds it to the hood. On top of the bolt there is a ball which snaps into a hollowed out half ball on the top of the strut. After inspecting the new strut I noticed there is a lock ring in there. I sprayed the crap out of my old strut with WD-40 and using thumb tack I was able spin the lock ring around and push it in the sides so I know there is no rust holding it in there yet no matter what I try I can't figure out how to get the stupid thing out lol...If I push it in using the thumbtack there is no room to pull it out with the pin still in there and I even tried bolting it back on the car and pulling and twisting the crap out of it in every direction, but eventually all it did was start to bend the underside of my hood and I figured I would break something before it would push that ring outta the way and come out...jeepers.
Anyone got any suggestions?
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  #2  
Old 05-17-2011, 11:06 PM
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Re: Help with factory hood strut install...

p.s. before anyone asks yes I did look at the how to documents and there is only a thread on installing some crappy aftermarket struts and it doesn't tell you how to remove those ball headed bolts. And to the guy who wrote the thread I apologize for insulting your struts
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  #3  
Old 05-17-2011, 11:57 PM
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Re: Help with factory hood strut install...

Ok, first of all if the ones in the how-to you're talking about are the spd ones, then they're actually really good, a lot more powerful than the stock ones I think.

Ok, so the subaru ones didn't come with the ball stud that bolts into the hood? (They are called ball studs btw.) That is weird. Grab a wrench and unbolt the stud from the hood, and then try to get it off of there. Don't break the captive nut on the inside of the hood. PB blaster is your friend. Should be a lot easier (and the solution more obvious) once it's off the car.
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  #4  
Old 05-18-2011, 12:35 AM
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Re: Help with factory hood strut install...

"Ball" studs lol. (you're never too old to find the words ball funny) Thanks Ok sorry I didn't clarify that, but I do have the ball stud unbolted from the hood already, I just can't get it out of the strut. I'll try uploading a picture...
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Old 05-18-2011, 12:44 AM
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Re: Help with factory hood strut install...



Ok so here is a pic of my old strut and my new one. If you look closely at the inside of the new one you can see that little silver ring around the edge that I can't get out
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  #6  
Old 05-18-2011, 06:16 AM
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Re: Help with factory hood strut install...

Leave the lock ring in there. That's what secures the ball part of the stud in the socket and allows it to rotate without coming out.

Twisting and turning and prying has no effect. Struts were designed for these type of movement.


I have replaced many and here is the easiest thing to do.

Put the nut portion on the ball stud in the end a vise and tighten it securely.
Using a hammer, strike the top of the strut housing,as close to the half-ball as you can, with a hard, swift blow. The strut wilt pop off of the ball easily. The force and momentum will cause the two to separate. You may have to hit it a couple of times.


I have even removed them from arts cars by unbolting the bottom bracket, leaving the ball still firmly attached to the hood, and using the hammer in the same manner. In your case, do the first method.
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  #7  
Old 05-18-2011, 10:39 AM
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Re: Help with factory hood strut install...

I had to cut one of mine free with a hacksaw. I cut the cup portion enough to pry it open, but not enough to mangle the ball inside the cup. It takes a wee bit of patience, but no particular skill.
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  #8  
Old 05-18-2011, 11:28 AM
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Re: Help with factory hood strut install...

It is not as much the "size of the hammer" as the "speed of the whack"

"Speed of the whack" is your friend!

Keith
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  #9  
Old 05-18-2011, 12:59 PM
92snowmachine 92snowmachine is offline
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Re: Help with factory hood strut install...

if you can't get the ball out (or mangle it trying) dorman sells those in several sizes in their "help" line which is sold at most auto stores, only cost a few dollars
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Old 05-18-2011, 01:37 PM
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Re: Help with factory hood strut install...

I was able to wrench the ball from the socket using vice grips and a twisting motion, after a bit of cussing and fuming. It certainly cannot be pulled straight out.

dcb
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  #11  
Old 05-18-2011, 04:54 PM
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Re: Help with factory hood strut install...

I got mine out by going down the highway at about 65MPH without my hood fully latched. Gravity took care if the rest..
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Old 05-19-2011, 12:25 PM
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Re: Help with factory hood strut install...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Freeman View Post
I got mine out by going down the highway at about 65MPH without my hood fully latched. Gravity took care if the rest..
im sorry but that is pretty funny the way you put it
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  #13  
Old 05-19-2011, 08:45 PM
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Re: Help with factory hood strut install...

My goodness Freeman thats a heck of a way to get the struts off lol I hope you weren't trying to save the hood though. Anyways I appreciate everyone's help on here. I did put them in a vice and tried the hard whacking, but the vice was old and crappy and instead of the strut popping off the ball the whole thing came flying out of the vice. So yeah I ended up cutting them out too, but it was east and only took like 30 seconds each. Installing the new ones was a piece of cake and considering my sold struts went out about 2 years ago I opened and closed my hood like 10 times in a row and just stared at it holding itself up like it was some sort of a miracle
Now I can work on my car in piece not worrying if whatever random object I grabbed to prop my hood up is going to slip out.
I did have the hood fall on me once while working on another SVX with bad struts. Hood latches plus your spine are a bad mix and I just laid on top on my engine for a good minute thankful that the car was cold at the time
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