FRPP Hood Strut Failure. Ow.

[The_Phantom]

So last night I was installing my new hood strut kit from Ford Performance.

I get both sides installed....pretty simple installation process. I figure while I'm at it, I will install my new JLT oil separator for the passenger side.

While I'm under the hood loosening the two 10mm bolts for the engine cover, I hear a loud "snap" followed by the hood smacking me on the back of the head. I quickly reach up and push it off me, grab the prop rod that I thankfully had not removed yet, and put it in place.

Long story short, the strut knuckle that attached to the passenger side fender mount broke. The tab snapped free, thus putting all the weight of the hood on the hard plastic tip which promptly also snapped. The driver's side strut did not support the weight of the hood on its own, so it came down on me. Needless to say.....I was not happy.

American Muscle agreed to accept the struts as a return. I'm going to save up a bit for a set of the Redline Tuning struts that are stainless steel and not cheapo plastic.

As a side note, I did get the JLT can in place, so we will see if it actually does anything. My car is babied and not tracked so it likely is a waste, but I am feeling the placebo of having something there just in case.

Not posting this to really slam on Ford products, but more of a "don't ditch the prop rod until you are SURE the struts are good" kind of friendly warning. Sucks because I was hoping to have them on before the weekend, but alas...not to be.

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[Deleted member 35644]

Mine worked correctly for a few weeks, and then stopped raising the hood on their own. All they really do now is hold the hood up after I've raised it.

Don't know if it's a spring problem, or a fluid problem, but I'll be trading them out for some Redlines.

 

[Monopoly]

Long live prop rods!

Catch can will collect oil. Im pretty light on my GT and gets drained every 3k kms or so. Is it needed? probably not. But it takes only a few mins to drain.

 

[The_Phantom]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm going to stick with the prop rod until I decide to throw the Redlines on.

Glad to hear the catch can may be worth it. I don't expect, or want, it to catch a ton of stuff, but if it prevents anything it will be worth it. Just a bit pricey and hard to justify in my mind, that's all.

I do like the ease of draining the JLT vs the Ford Performance unit.

 

[Zelek]

I got the redline black ones and they work perfectly.

UPR catch can works quite well too. I got the one that mounts near the radiator versus the one closer to the engine. Very easy to empty.

 

[lacanteen]

I have the Steeda branded hood struts and they work great. Just raise the hood about a foot and it'll go the rest of the way on it's own if you let it.

 

[Silver Bullitt]

I have the Steeda branded hood struts and they work great. Just raise the hood about a foot and it'll go the rest of the way on it's own if you let it.

Yup, same here. Had them on for 1 1/2 years now.

 

[Ontheedge]

You where lucky, could have hit you real bad in the neck/head.
I wote for the steeda struts, have them on my Bullitt, works really god.

 

[The_Phantom]

You where lucky, could have hit you real bad in the neck/head.
I wote for the steeda struts, have them on my Bullitt, works really god.

Yeah I was extremely lucky.

Mostly caught it on the upper back/between shoulder blades. Sore this morning, but still better than a concussion.

 

[tj@steeda]

Let me know if I can help assist with a set of Steeda hood struts, they pair nicely with our Steeda trunk pop kit too.

Think about the effort that can be saved

 

[The_Phantom]

I already have a trunk pop kit on order. Make me a swinging deal on some struts and I just may bite.

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