Hood struts?

Ah yes, struts noted new technology never before seen on any other vehicle. You haven’t been able to buy a luxury car with a prop for a decade. They’re fine.

 

I'm thinking long game. Replaced them twice so far on my 89 Supra, and had to use the Vise-grips for a while. And you think the Tacoma hood is heavy...

 

Instructions include to paint the exposed metal after drilling...which I'm confident will prevent rusting.

I used OEM touch up paint from the rock chip repair I had to fix last November.

 

I coated the rivets with some grease prior to installing. The idea is the grease will cover the bare metal from the drilling.

 

Touch up paint isn't going to get to the back side. The grease idea might help and that's a big might.

 

I flooded the interior drilled hole with touch up paint...trying to be excessive! lol

I think it will be OK.

 

Hopefully those hood stuts last a while. Seen too many of those type struts go south after a few years. Its a great idea if they hold up.

 

Same now about 2 years installed. I bought them before my truck even arrived. I looked at others. The spiker ones because of the higher lift but then I seen Solkie tech and that they're no drill. The surprise was that they also lift the hood up more than the prop rod. Only I don't know how high compared to spikers and new red line version.

I also added @mattgecko led hood light
I planned to do maintenance on the truck myself and keep in ten years or more. I know it seems silly since you don't open the hood a lot but it makes it easier for me. The light also was handy when I jumped a neighbors car once. No fumbling with a flashlight.

 

They held up on my Jeep for over ten years and those being stock on that were cheap to order replacements from rock auto.
These kits in not sure about. Hopefully the vendors will offer a less expensive replacement set at some point. The plus here is you still have the prop rod as a back up.
With vehicles that have the struts from the factory you have to use a 2x4 or something when they fail and you need to work under the hood.

 

How do the Sokietech ones work with ditch lights? Does their bracket work with ditch light bracks? Does it lift it too high to where the ditch lights will hit the windshield etc?

The no drill/rivet option seems sweet.

 

+1 for Redline. Have them on both my vehicles and they have good customer service and struts hold up well. Plus that extra 7" is really nice.

 

Unf a Targa top MK3 is goals for me as a project. Hoping to get one in the next year <3

 

I'm not sure how they would work as I don't have or plan to get ditch lights.
If I posted pics of the hood with them installed and maybe took a few measurements would that help?

 

Thats what she said.

 

That's why I put the winky face lmao. Most suggestive emoji could find on here.

It is nice though, the stock opening is so small lol.

 

Most suggestive?

 

Hopefully they do last.

I think it's a good idea to get LOTS of use out of them...open the hood for weekly/periodic oil checks & visual inspections.

Since there are two struts, I wouldn't imagine both would go out and the hood come slamming down. If it was one strut...I'd be concerned.

And I did take into consideration the weight of my Skewp Hood. That's the reasoning I gave my wife! lol

Her response, "How often do you open the hood?"

My response, "I do weekly oil level checks on both of our vehicles." (When I'm on the ball)

My Skewp Hood just happens to weigh more than her Elantra's.

 

That's my next mod. This site has always provided excellent info and help. much appreciated.

 

Our struts come with a 5 year warranty. Not some BS warranty with a page worth of excuses, but an honest to goodness "if the struts fail, we will send you a replacement, free of charge, and we'll cover shipping". When you make a quality product, you can stand behind it.

 

OP, look I have had both and can say both are nice struts but Spikers are just better. Hard to describe but if you're looking for a more factory looking strut, larger diameter strut and a better overall kit, get the Spikers. Plus the warranty is pretty nice. My Redines on my 08 Mustang were great but I lost the 1/2 moon clip holding the strut onto the bracket. I got another one later but just never liked the design which they changed later I believe.