Group Buy for Bonnet Strut/Hood Damper

[hamish_023]

Every tool box or car the struts I have seen is placed where the body is at the top and rod visible at the bottom...

[Brad88]

mate bought a set ages ago for his supra and they came with the little thing of grease too and he said it was for the ball part and screw so it doesn't rust.

and i have seen a fair few toolboxes and other bonnet struts on the way we are flipping them to, i don't think it would damage them as they are filled with gas and fully sealed

[birch_security]

I would grease a bit in the ball joint and a bit on the rod itself where it slide into the strut on closure.

mate bought a set ages ago for his supra and they came with the little thing of grease too and he said it was for the ball part and screw so it doesn't rust.

Thanx guys, thats what i thought but just thought i double check before i start greasing away...lol

[Brad88]

i used anti seize on mine its better but its fairly hard to clean up

[fatfrog02]

I have had my bonnet struts for over 6 months and the ball joints are covered in rust. Bit concerned that the rust may spread to the car. Besides greasing the ball joint like a couple of the above posts have suggested any other suggestions of getting rid of the rust and keeping it away permanently. Was thinking about going to Bunnings for some killrust treatment.

[Kekotic]

I pre-sprayed mine with WD-40 when I first installed it, 2 weeks later (or is it 3?) and no rust after driving it in the rain a few times. Hamish had his on the same amount of time and his were rusted.
If you are at the point where they are rusted, then yes get killrust...Hamish is doing the same.

I guess for those that haven't installed them yet, spray them with WD40 and grease them up.

[Brad88]

wd-40 does do the trick but you will have to re apply it as it doesn't last forever, lanolin last allot longer but is a little bit sticky you can get that is designed to stop corrosion on steel that leaves a waxy sort of coat on top, the stuff we use at work is called "soft seal" but theres heaps of others that do the same job.

but painting them would probably be the best way as if wont leave a film and you can make it what ever colour you want, you just need to use a good primer, galvit is good and kill rust is good to but it just takes a little longer to dry.

[Kekotic]

I might paint mine satin white, maybe when I get my front bar resprayed I can get them to do the bolts too.
Thanks for the info.

[Rome_BRZ]

So are any more of these being purchased??

[3rspecb]

I have rubbed mine back and given them 2 coats of kill rust / black paint.

Are the plates that attach to the bonnet rusting up too ?

[jaydece]

Hey All,

Finally had a chance to install the bonnet struts, I installed them with the struts on the bottom position.....and initial thoughts I must say what a relief of not having a piece of metal bar in your face any longer.... down side is I keep knocking / hitting the struts when working on the sides of the engine bay...oh well...cant win them all....Just quickly though...I just would like to comment on something I picked up on with the other guys installing there struts? please correct me if i'm wrong on the following: -

I noticed that on the pictures that hamish_023 and Yindustries posted it seems they have installed the ball joint hood bracket incorrectly? dont know if many of you have done this also? IF I'M RIGHT!?
If you look at them before installing....it states on the bracket "HOOD" which to my understanding means this is the face that sits up against the bonnet hood and then you have "L" or "R" in which i interpreted as if your facing the front of the car L or R......now i dont know what implications this has but it's something I just noticed.....so once again please correct me if i'm wrong? If you dont know what I'm talking about...look at my installation compared to hamish_23....

feedback and comments please! Thanks!

[3rspecb]

thanks Justin. I have re-installed my struts like you have done and now both sides of my bonnet sits flush..

Previoulsy i could only get 1 side to sit flush..

thanks..

[jaydece]

so I was RIGHT ?! OMG!

[hamish_023]

Hmmm i might go have a look and change then around see what sits better and paint the balls while I'm under the hood.

[Rome_BRZ]

I'm still tossing up whether to get one of these! Cons seem to outweigh the pros?

Pros:
- +1000 street cred
- Makes opening bonnet 1 second quicker

Cons:
- Rusting
- Snapping
- Bonnet doesn't sit as flush