Hood Struts

Will be installing Redline hood struts this afternoon and was trying to get some input on reliability. Do the 3/16 rivets remain secure over time? Contemplating using some sort of riv-nut instead of the standard rivets provided.

 

Only had mine about 6 months or so. No issues but I'm not a rivet connoisseur either. They seemed solid when I installed them, pretty hard to break'em off as I remember, with just a hand rivet gun. I did paint the holes I drilled prior to installation.

 

I haven’t had any issues. They shouldn’t come loose and if they did, it wouldn’t be that hard to put in a new rivet.

 

Look into sokie tech hood struts that what I have no riveting at all bolts right on

 

I was given the Redlines as a father's day present. Will be installing this afternoon with the supplied rivets. Those sokietechs do look solid.

 

Had my redline for about a 2 years now, no issues with wear on the rivets. Hood struts function just as good as new too.
Careful with drilling, as you can overshoot and hit the out shell. Tape around the bit, and one size larger than the rivets makes installation easy.
I did have issues installing the ball joint from the strut to hood, the c shape metal piece bent and wouldn't smoothly snap in place.
Forced it in place, doesn't seem to hinder operations though.

I would have liked the Sokie tech, since they don't require permanent changes to the vehicle. But that angle seems to put the most stress on the hydraulics.

 

Basically the same for me. Painting the drilled holes prior to install is key, IMO.

 

The 3/16" multi-grip that we and Redline use will actually remain secure longer than rivnuts/screws will. They're designed to be a permanent fastener, with better resistance to loosening over time than a threaded fastener.

 

I know rivets are made with different materials and all, but rivets are generally pretty solid. I'd have bigger concerns flying on an airplane if I didn't trust rivets as airplanes are filled with them. LOL!

 

Is it possible to install these without a rivet gun? Small nut and bolt?

 

Not really because you can't get to the back side. You'd need to use rivnuts if you don't want to use rivets. A rivet gun can be had for under $15 .

 

Had mine on for a couple of years, no issues.