Hood strut replacement

[101audi]

Hi guys,

I bought a hood strut to replace mine. How do I remove the old one and install the new one? What tools do I need and anything to keep in mind?

Thanks

[alexza4]

flathead screwdriver. lift clips on both ends to release and remove.

[lyleswk]

I "practiced" on the new one to figure out how the clips worked. Once you see how it works unattached, it is a piece of cake to remove the old one.

[collins123420]

Is the hood "strut" the neumatic thing that keeps the hood held up when open? (sorry for the retardedness of my question lol) And if it is, where can you buy a new one since mines bad as well? Autozone?

[sillysod]

mine worked perfectly, then yesterday opened the hood and "SLAM".... then logged in and saw this haha

[jdigga99]

They should've had a backup "old fashioned" on for when ours goes out. But then....I guess they wouldn't be able to charge us up when it's time to replace it.

[collins123420]

So the whole pneumatic arm that holds the hood up is called a "hood strut"? And anybody know where they are sold?

[lyleswk]

Yes, that is the hood strut. I bought mine from ECS Tuning:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-...ch/Hood_Strut/

You can try autozone et al, but be warned that they are generic and sometimes don't fit well on some cars they are suposed to work on.

[collins123420]

THANKS lyleswk!

Does the Stabilus one work just as well as OEM?! I'll like to save the $13 lol

[lyleswk]

I think I used the cheaper one, but am not sure. Neverless, I would trust ECS. Chris was great and I am sure the new guy (What was his name?).

[Bobby417919]

Mine went out a few months back while changing my thermostat. I just ordered one from Advance Auto Parts. Like he said a screw driver and a strong arm is all thats needed. Once the hood strut is off the hood is heavy. It took less then 5 mins and I think it was $30ish and took 3 days to get it. It was also from Germany but not Audi I dont think.

[101audi]

Bump

My replacement hood strut came compressed. How do I I decompress a little so I can attach it to both attachments?

Thx
Vic

[GeoergeA402]

Went out today to diagnose my dipped left headlight only to find that my hood strut blew too. I plan to just get an OEM one tomorrow from the dealer. I am visual person so I am looking for if anyone has done this replacement with a DIY or with pics to show how it comes undone.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks AZ

[Rommulus]

I "practiced" on the new one to figure out how the clips worked. Once you see how it works unattached, it is a piece of cake to remove the old one.

This.

There is a metal tension clip at each end of the strut which is what locks it in place . Pry it up with a flat head and the strut socket fits on the mounting ball. Then push the clip back in to "lock". The person at the parts counter should be able to show you how it works, but its pretty obvious when you look at it.

[swiderek]

Go to 40sec mark...

[GeoergeA402]

Thanks

[airjordan223]

just replaced mine.

got it online for 25

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Yes, that is the hood strut. I bought mine from ECS Tuning:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-...ch/Hood_Strut/

You can try autozone et al, but be warned that they are generic and sometimes don't fit well on some cars they are suposed to work on.

Thanks for the support!

The aftermarket is just as good as the OEM



Let me know if you have any questions.

[carlito]

Thanks for the support!

The aftermarket is just as good as the OEM



Let me know if you have any questions.

Besides price, what's the difference between OEM & aftermarket?

[milan2k13]

Bought mine at auto zone for 25$... Works lol

[elewsader]

Besides price, what's the difference between OEM & aftermarket?

chinese labor..

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Besides price, what's the difference between OEM & aftermarket?

Depends. Audi doesn't manufacture every single piece on the vehicle. We are able to source those parts from the manufacturer with out the Audi branding. Which saves quite a bit of money. Then their are replica pieces - usually Chinese manufactured.

Jason

[jacobsen]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181180160874...84.m1423.l2649

$16.90 and free shipping it says Germany on it, German writing too.

[elewsader]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181180160874...84.m1423.l2649

$16.90 and free shipping it says Germany on it, German writing too.

That ad has "shipping from China" all over it buddy.

[bailor]

That ad has "shipping from China" all over it buddy.

I got the cheapest one I could find on ebay, it was less than $20 shipped. It has worked great for a year now. A word of caution though... don't buy any other parts for your car on ebay. I figured, "how can you mess up a hood strut", so I took the gamble, and fortunately I was right. I learned about ebay parts the hard way a while ago when I had a Mk4 VR6 that needed a head gasket. I ordered everything for the job off ebay, and I think only 25% of the parts worked or were a good fit.

[jacobsen]

That ad has "shipping from China" all over it buddy.

Yeah but it's identical to the OEM. And a hood strut is a hood strut in my book!

[olstyn]

Mine just died; any particular reason I wouldn't just buy the cheapest one ECS has available? ($20 + shipping vs the genuine Audi part for $66 + shipping.)

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Mine just died; any particular reason I wouldn't just buy the cheapest one ECS has available? ($20 + shipping vs the genuine Audi part for $66 + shipping.)

For something like this I would spend as little as possible. There's not much to a hood strut and chances are most aftermarket ones are all made in the same factory just sent to different distributors.

Personally I've always been a fan of Vaico. Many of their parts are manufactured in Germany and we keep plenty of them in stock (which is a good thing if anything ever happens) you have a better chance of us sending you a new one at no cost to you.

Click HERE

Jason

[olstyn]

For something like this I would spend as little as possible. There's not much to a hood strut and chances are most aftermarket ones are all made in the same factory just sent to different distributors.

Personally I've always been a fan of Vaico. Many of their parts are manufactured in Germany and we keep plenty of them in stock (which is a good thing if anything ever happens) you have a better chance of us sending you a new one at no cost to you.

Click HERE

Jason

Thanks for the speedy advice; that's not much more, and if it comes with at least some additional assurance of quality and/or support, it's worth it. Ordering now. :)

Edit: Hah, that one must be in a smaller box; it was about $4 less to ship, so the price difference is even smaller than I thought!

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Thanks for the speedy advice; that's not much more, and if it comes with at least some additional assurance of quality and/or support, it's worth it. Ordering now. :)

Edit: Hah, that one must be in a smaller box; it was about $4 less to ship, so the price difference is even smaller than I thought!

Sounds good!

Hmm thats interesting. I'll check the weights and dims. They should all be similar.

Jason

[road_tripper]

i just bought a made-in-america strong-arm hood strut (off ebay, 'lift supports depot'). $28 including shipping; received the strut 2 days after ordering.

[Audi 4 Life]

Weird I just got my car back from the body shop and every single strut had failed, hood and both on the trunk. I blamed the body shop cuz they worked when I dropped the car off. lol maybe it was just a coincidence. Anyways they ordered me new ones from the dealer at 50$ each for front and rears. We'll see how good they are.

Also, Kinda scary for the hood to fail since it only has 1, that could potentially be very dangerous if it all the sudden failed while working under the hood.