Hood Strut Replacement 2005 Ram

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:

RamWilderness wrote:
I thought my 03 hood struts were good until one day in the rain I raised the hood, stuck my head under the hood and it came down on me, wet hood weight? With that grill hanging off the hood it feels like you are being eaten by your truck! At the recommendation of one of the Dodge/Cummins sites I installed struts from a newer truck, apparently the newer hoods are heavier? Now when my hood is opened about 10" it pops open by itself. Before I had to open it all the way. The new struts are about 3/4" in diameter, the old ones are about 1/2" in diameter.

Do you remember what year truck you ordered? Mine are fine in the winter but hot summer days you need to make sure the hood is all the up and hope there is not a strong wind or you will be beheaded :E

Don

Here you go; DODGE OEM 55372200AA Hood Lift Support/Lift Support

Had to have new ones put on my truck last Aug. while it was in body shop for mother nature damage. I think they used ones from NAPA. I am happy no sinking feeling.

RamWilderness wrote:
I thought my 03 hood struts were good until one day in the rain I raised the hood, stuck my head under the hood and it came down on me, wet hood weight? With that grill hanging off the hood it feels like you are being eaten by your truck! At the recommendation of one of the Dodge/Cummins sites I installed struts from a newer truck, apparently the newer hoods are heavier? Now when my hood is opened about 10" it pops open by itself. Before I had to open it all the way. The new struts are about 3/4" in diameter, the old ones are about 1/2" in diameter.

Do you remember what year truck you ordered? Mine are fine in the winter but hot summer days you need to make sure the hood is all the up and hope there is not a strong wind or you will be beheaded :E

Don

I thought my 03 hood struts were good until one day in the rain I raised the hood, stuck my head under the hood and it came down on me, wet hood weight? With that grill hanging off the hood it feels like you are being eaten by your truck! At the recommendation of one of the Dodge/Cummins sites I installed struts from a newer truck, apparently the newer hoods are heavier? Now when my hood is opened about 10" it pops open by itself. Before I had to open it all the way. The new struts are about 3/4" in diameter, the old ones are about 1/2" in diameter.

Mark Heisler wrote:
it is very easy to replace.
take a small flat blade screw driver and lift the little steel tap on the back side of the shock and pull it off the ball.
then take it to the parts store and get the right one and snap them back on. it as easy as changing a wiper blade
cost 10-15 bucks

Mark, thanks again for your assistance. I picked up the struts today. Their attachment method was the spring clip, it was even easier than changing the wiper blades (did that too)! Hood stays up, no more skull bangin', and I can see where I'm going in the rain to boot! :B

Struts on my Chrysler 300C have done the same thing, the sneaky kamikaze. Worked fine, then boom, hood starts dropping on me.

Time to change them out.

My '03 started doing the same thing. Pulled one strut off, drilled a hole in the "ram" and use a hitch clip pin in it. I used a ty-rap to keep the pin from disappearing from under the hood. I just refuse to buy two more pieces of junk that will also do the same thing over time!

Have to agree. We replaced the hood struts in our Ram last year.

ScottG wrote:
Those struts are insidious!
One day they're fine and the next day the hood tries to decapitate you.

That's what I don't understand. Wasn't but 3 weeks ago we went on a weekend trip and I raised the hood to connect the compressor to air up the truck tires and Ride Rites. No problem and then last Friday........:M

Checked them yesterday before I called NAPA, they still wouldn't hold the hood up, so I spent the money rather than risk a migraine......

Funny thing, the wife drives a nearly 14 year old Camry and the hood struts works just as good as the day we bought the car. :h Sure, the Ram's hood is more weight but the struts on either vehicle ain't doin' squat until you raise the hood..........:h

I propped my hood up with abroomstick to change them. Piece of cake! Craig