Crazy hood shocks??

pearljaman31 · 10-18-2005, 09:50 AM

I bought these really nice hood shocks from weltmeister to go on my 83 944. They are fully extended, they don't go up and down like a piston. They are a tad too big to fit also. I tried rasing the hood as high as i could, but once i get the one end pushed in, the other end doesnt have enough clearance to be screwed in. Does anyone else have this problem? If i could push it up and down like a piston i would have no problems installing it.

Brando · Brando's Garage

Stock shocks should be a fine replacement.

You have to compress them a bit to install them usually. Be careful!! Don't open the hood too far or you might crack your windshield at the edge!

pearljaman31 · 10-18-2005, 10:15 AM

How do i compress them?

Brando · Brando's Garage

My method has always been ... put one end on the ground and all your weight on the other... it should slide down and give a lot of resistance...

In the front of the car trying to get them on the hood... it aint easy but it's possible.

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

We had this problem with MikeCT's car. I believe we had to unbolt one side of the hood to get them on.

onZedge · 10-18-2005, 07:51 PM

I installed brand new hood struts from Pelican by myself and I didn't even have to remove the battery. The secret? You have to get creative with various lengths and chuncks of 2x4's and a small pry bar. Tying the hood up, by the latch mechanism, to the ceiling rafters helps tremendously also. (insert sarcastic smiley here)

BTW - a nice finishing touch is to replace those flimsy/ugly/rusty hood pin clips with some nice stainless steel metric washers and e-clips.

ilikemy944 · 10-18-2005, 08:10 PM

?
I don't get these threads...
I bought mine, put them on, by myself, and I'm just a skinny little white boy. Took maybe 5 minutes. I think I flexed the hood a little bit, only doing one at a time, and they went right in... It took a little wiggling to get the pin in, but no biggie. Did the car end first and the hood end second.

pearljaman31 · 10-18-2005, 08:14 PM

I know dude.. It baffles me. Im no mechanic but i can do some things well. This thing doesnt have enough clearance though im telling you. It wont fit.

livewirevoodoo · livewirevoodoo's Garage

are they any harder to do than the hatch struts?

pearljaman31 · 10-18-2005, 08:16 PM

Easier i think. I can put the old ones on and off..they can be pushed in and out. The new ones i guess are so stiff. I may have to take the hood off.

onZedge · 10-18-2005, 08:16 PM

The hatch has struts?

Eldorado · 10-18-2005, 08:16 PM

lol are u sure they're for your car?

pearljaman31 · 10-18-2005, 08:20 PM

The guy at automotion swore they were. Im like dude something isnt right, but he assured me they were right. Maybe he was high though.

XxKHxX · 10-18-2005, 08:22 PM

mine were about 2 cm too large for my car, i had to unbolt the hood (2 bolts on the hinges) then play around with the hood. and snap the shocks on. then i had my dad push down on the hood while i tightened the two nuts...it seemed hard to do but once installed they worked perfectly

good luck

pearljaman31 · 10-18-2005, 08:26 PM

thanks for the tip... yeah its not too much longer, but its long enough to make it impossible unless you unbolt some things.

livewirevoodoo · livewirevoodoo's Garage

are they OEM or aftermarket? Part number stamped on them?

if aftermarket return them if possible. go OEM. no hassles. cheap on pelican or wait for a deal on ebay.

pearljaman31 · 10-18-2005, 08:44 PM

Their weltmeister w/ a lifetime warranty. They were in the performance products porsche mag. The say their a direct replacement for stock.

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by ilikemy944
?
I don't get these threads...
I bought mine, put them on, by myself, and I'm just a skinny little white boy. Took maybe 5 minutes. I think I flexed the hood a little bit, only doing one at a time, and they went right in... It took a little wiggling to get the pin in, but no biggie. Did the car end first and the hood end second.

Sometimes one car differs from another. On my car, it took 5 minutes; old struts snapped out, new ones snapped in. MikeCT's car wasn't as cooperative for whatever reason.

hpaulb · 10-19-2005, 07:09 AM

There tuff but wouldn't hold up you hood if they wern't. Best way is to put the shaft end on first, then lean into it and pull up on the shock body and put the pin in, get somone to hold the hood in place so you don't push it up to high. A little swearing and it's in. Always order new clips if you can find them. I think I got a pair that were for some other use from the local Voltwagon dealer.