JimsGX

I bought the Ebay ones and wasn't happy with them. They made my hood bow up slightly in the center along each fender on my 1991... I was also getting a cracking sound going over bumps that was coming from the drivers side hood hinge area. Took them out and put the OEM one's back in for now. No bow and no cracking sound.

Andyman32, did the Advance Auto ones bow your hood at all?

andyman32

No, not at all. It sounds like lots of folks with first-gen LSs had trouble with aftermarket hood struts so maybe there's a different structure on this one's hood... but it really works perfectly. Closes smoothly, there's no such thing as the "hard resistance" problem of new struts others have reported here - and as I said, the ball joints were included. You just screw in the new ball screw and the strut clips right on. I actually didn't notice it at first and had cut open the ball joints on both ends of the first hood strut with a high-speed cutoff tool. Only when I went to install the new ones did I realize that they included the little screws.

JimsGX

Just ordered two of the Strong Arm # 4572's off of Amazon. They had only two in stock that were sold by Amazon directly that were on special for $10 each, then a $5 rebate for the pair. So I paid $15 for the pair and $11 shipping! $26 for the pair total. Not bad. Others on there are $43.50 a pair plus shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/StrongArm-4572...f=pd_rhf_p_t_2

andyman32

Wow... well, that's less than 1/4 what I paid. Shame on me though. I've gotten some fantastic deals on car parts from Amazon before.

JimsGX

I installed the Strong Arm 4572 hood struts tonight. They work great. Night and day compared to the PartsAvenue struts on ebay. I had bought and installed the PartsAvenue struts and they were extremely stiff. Plus they made my hood bow up on the sides when the hood was closed. The Strong Arm's work much better and no hood bow!

Thanks

Dtwillis5

Make sure they not up side down. I just install mighty lift struts and they work good

RA40

iTrader: (6)

Just a chime for the Mighty Lift. When new, I only needed to use one to hold the hood up. After they age a bit, they get a bit weaker so after rotating them around, I finally can use two. Brand new with both installed, it bowed the hood and it was hard to close.

p.hase

do UCF20 lifts direct bolt on UCF10? they are available on junk yards and of course are many years younger in age.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

no, they dont.

there's even a difference in series 1 and II UCF2x hood struts.

JimsGX

The Park Avenue struts can't be installed upside down. The ends are pre-assembled and the bolt sizes are different. This is just one of those instances where you get what you pay for...

andyman32

They have the Strong Arm hood struts on Amazon for $18 each and free shipping. For $36, by the time you pay a couple of bucks to the junk yard and whatever gas you have to burn to get there & back, and coming home with a used part, it's hardly worth your while. The difference really maybe as little as $10 or $15. May as well get one that is brand new and you know works well, right?

StevieA

x2 on the Parts Avenue struts bowing the hood. Just noticed the other day the middle-sides of my hood are up about 1/4-1/2 inch when the hood's closed plus it takes a TON of effort to close the hood the 1st few inches from fully open.

But I'm going to stick with them anyway

sethjon

I doubt you can find them on ebay for $50. If you did, consider yourself lucky.

silos5

iTrader: (3)

hey guys!! I have a question about hood struts. On mine ´98 I still have OEM and they suck. I went to a shop and found some. The problem is I cant choose which one to buy: they have different Newtons - 120N, 200N and 300N. I know the hood is heavy but I dont want to have any problem with closing it. And I want my hood to stay up also! Anyone can give an advice on which on to buy??

ps: I´m from europe, so buying ebay struts from US is more expensive for me.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

i've bought several sets for LS' for $45-50.

obviously not OEM of course.