Hood Shocks!

[tpweiss9953]

`Just got new hood shocks...Heavy duty ones. Probably a really dumb question but why can i not move the shock up and down? Havent installed yet. But i would think that i could push the shock in and out. who knows? do they just magically work once installed?

[shbop]

Originally Posted by tpweiss9953

`Just got new hood shocks...Heavy duty ones. Probably a really dumb question but why can i not move the shock up and down? Havent installed yet. But i would think that i could push the shock in and out. who knows? do they just magically work once installed?

Without the leverage of the hood, they're pretty tough, but if you stick a screwdriver through the top of one, it should give you enough "purchase" to compress the little bugger.

[Bob Kontak]

Long hemostats or little kid fingers can be used to get the pin in. Forget it if you got meat hooks for hands.

[kees]

Absolutely normal.

[OsoMoore]

Without a ton of mechanical advantage, you won't be able to compress them. The passenger side one is easy to install, but the driver's side is a major pain. Just spend some time fiddling around and you'll figure out the trick to it eventually.

I recommend leaving out the locking pins on the bottom - it will make it much easier to replace next time and they aren't in any danger of coming off on their own due to the pressure. My PPO left the pins off when he replaced them last time (probably 10+ years ago), so they weren't too hard once I figured out the trick of it.

I did manage to give myself a fearsome bruise attempting to put it in incorrectly.

[tctnd]

They aren't really "shocks". They are gas springs.

[tpweiss9953]

Thanks! Installed and they work just fine. Left out locking pin on drivers side bottom. Other than that a quick and easy install!

[tirwin]

A tip is to tie a piece of dental floss to the lock pins so you don't lose them.