Bonnet (Hood) Struts

Which way round should they go? as I have just recently noticed that on my XJS the drivers side one faces one way up and the passenger side one the other.

Or doesn't it matter?

 

i like the gas cylinder on thr front stud, figuring if any leaks air would be at top!

course by then you need new ones again,and again, and again, LOL

after 3 sets ,i now use this adjustable prop rod, yeah,i know , but wait till a high wind comes along and blows your hood/bonnet down with a crash!

my rod has hood extended to max ,cant go up,cant go down, struts serve as travel limiters!

pic not very clear!

 

OEM: The thicker cylinder attached to the car body, the thinner rod attached to the bonnet.
Greg

 

Hi Ron

I've got the idea!

Does the Prop attach to anything, or is it just jammed in somewhere?

Can you buy these, or did you make it yourself?

 

Cheers Greg

I've got to put them back on my other Car and needed reminding which way round they go after they had been off the Car for 16 years (LOl)

 

Where is the prop in the photo, please, I cannot see it.
Greg

 

Its in between the Fuel Rail, in among those Yellow Leads.

 

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i bought the prop rod at a local auto store in Daytona fl. about 15yrs ago, i have seen them in other places, to hold up trunk/boot hold doors open etc.

 

Cheers Ron!

I'm already in production of making something for mine.

 

easy to make BLACK = strut RED = PVC pipe


just a pvc pipe that fits over the thick part that is the right length of it opened all the way


when you open it all the way it falls down and jams against the thicker part of the hood strut...


stays open until you open the bonnet a little more so you can slide the pipe over the thick part
I'm SIMPLE.... grin

 

That's all well and good. What's the crossbrace about? Is that stock on any model of XJS? If not, where'd you source it? Do you notice any added rigidity? I'll admit to never having put mine in a situation where I could have tested its torsional rigidity at all. It certainly has the heft to make me think it would be stiff like a lathe.

 

Hi Jonathan

I'm liking that idea a lot, I'll get a piece of Pipe and give it a go.

 

use 300 C pipe, (must be thin enough to fit between the fender and the strut when bonnet is down), paint to match,
if the thicker part of the strut is attached to the hood it works more simply...


the other way (thin end attached to the hood) you have to engineer an attachment for the pipe on the thin end of the strut... (or pull it up into place) not impossible but it is another layer of complexity...

 

question ; does your part require 2 sides,like one on each side?

mine is in the middle of Vee at base of T pedestal and props up against hood inside edge, it is adjustable for length!

altho once lenght is set it stays that way, i carry it behind drivers seat, can be installed from either side of car!

i should take a pic of it , not installed, got it around 15 yrs ago, i use it as second nature! also great night stick if something stupid happens!

 

Hi Jonathan

I made one!

But I used Aluminium rather than Plastic, it works great!

Though I left the polythene on it until I got it fitted.

 

Nice! Mick Jager it... (paint it black) :-)
I like the Aluminum rather than Plastic...
Do you have to side it into place?
try flipping the strut around and see if that will act more automatically?

 

Hi Jonathan

I like it the way round it is because at rest when its over the Thicker Part of the Strut, there is less chance that it will roll around.

Its looks a bit 'Bling' in Aly, which draws the eye straight to it, the moment you open the Bonnet/Hood and cost me the Princely sum of 50 pence, as it was an off-cut so just a little bit cheaper than a Brand New Set of Struts!

 

How Do I Adjust the Force on my Gas Strut?

 

That only works if you have an SGS adjustable pressure strut though! But that company is excellent, and they will make you a 20% higher pressure XJS strut which solved all my problems.
Greg