Replaced MY Front Hood Struts Today
 

I finally got tired of my front hood hitting me in the head or using a broom stick as a prop for the '87 Carrera. Maybe this has been said already, but I highly recommend Bob Tindel's article in the Tech Info Center to anyone thinking about replacing their front hood struts. What could have been a long and frustrating afternoon (particularly installing the pin and retainer on the driver's side) turned into a rather straight forward DIY, at least for someone who is mechanically challenged more often than not.

the trick for doing this job is having a pair of needle nose pliers with a bend at the end (90*) for putting the pin in and the retaining clip on likely one of my most used tools. especially usefull on the driver's side.

Looks like we used the same approach, Felix. I used a very long and slightly curved pair hemostats for the pins, and dental floss to tie to the retainers so I could find them if I dropped them into the "black hole" or they flying across the garage (Bob Tindel's suggestions).

Wish I'd read that article. lol!

I didn't read the article, but my wife has small hands, so she finished the drivers side for me, what a gal!

I used hemostats for the pins, too, but didn't tie anything to the retaining clips. I was done in less than twenty minutes... or about an hour if you count the time spent looking for and then fabricating a new clip! http://www.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/face76.gif

Agreed, the article was quite useful.....Was my 2nd hood upgrade...The first was from a Yardstick that finally broke to a piece of 1 X 4 lumber.......

Any advice on doing the rear?

The rear deck is essentially the same job.

Couldn't you drill the mounting pins to fit cotter pins instead of using the PIA OEM circlips?

Cotter pins sounds like a good alternative. Wayne's book also suggests using nuts and bolts.

I recently changed the passenger side, and since the hood would stay up on it's own, decided that the other new one is now for next time I change the passenger side only.

I don't know how cold it gets where you are, but those things don't work as well when it's cold out and you may find you need both.

The idea of using dental floss is awesome. Wonder if it would work on nuts. Although the tolerances may be too small. Interesting.

Q.

I figured that one out on my own after one of the clips fell into the abyss.

I'm finally done with hood struts and "lifetime" warranties. Converted engine and trunk lid to Carbon Fiber struts. Not planing to touch them again for the next 30 years.