Hood Strut Replacement “How To”

Post- How to considerations: After installing these struts I found they were a little weak. I talked to the guys at the NAPA counter and they said you can order them in varying degrees of pressure. I think part# 819-5581 would be more suitable. It holds 120 lbs force.

Whatever strength you purchase it needs to have the following specs (from NAPA):

Length = 11 inches

Stroke = 6 inches

Force = at least 100lbs

End Type = A

New strut considerations

The strut I used was Strong Arm brand, Napa part# 819-5227. They had two different kinds in the store. One had a threaded stud end (figure 0 below). The other type had a non-threaded end with a cir-clip. I used the threaded style but I’m sure the cir-clip style would work just as well.

Parts/Supplies needed

  • 2 New struts either with a threaded stud end or not. This document assumes using struts with a threaded end. See figure 0.
  • 2, ten mm nuts. If you’ve worked on Subaru’s, or any Japanese car, then you probably have a bucket of old nuts and bolts. If you don’t, and your strut has a threaded stud end, take it to the hardware store for a 10mm nut to attach the old bracket to the new strut.

Tools used

  • A 12mm, open end wrench
  • A 10 mm socket and ratchet
  • Needle nose, Vice grip pliers
  • A bench top vice
  • A hammer
  • A drill, 3/16” metal drill bit, and a hole punch.
  1. Remove the Old strut from the car using a 12mm open end wrench for the upper strut bolt and a 10mm socket for the two lower strut bolts (strut bracket).
  1. Remove the strut from the upper bolt. I used a vice to hold the bolt while I hit the old cartridge with a hammer (fig 1). This took a couple good whacks !

  1. Saw / Cut the bracket from the old strut shaft (figure 2.). I used a Dremel with a cut off wheel.

  1. Use a whole punch to mark the center of the bracket flange. Use a 3/16” metal drill bit to drill a hole for the new strut stud to fit through (Figure 3). You will have to wallow the hole out slightly over 3/16” for the strut stud to fit through.

  1. Use a pair of vice grips to hold the new strut shaft at the very end, as not to damage the shaft where it matters (Figure 4). Use a 10mm nut to attach the new strut to the old bracket. You’re done!