Replacement OEM hood springs question Gen2 GTS

[Rxmfn7]

So, my oem springs were getting a bit weak. They would hold the hood up, but if the car was on any slight incline , or a slight breeze would want to bring the hood crashing down. So I had ordered a new set of oem springs, and just got around to installing them this morning. Now with the new springs, the hood will not stay up by itself whatsoever. So my question, did I just get a set of "bad" new springs? Is there any sort of tension adjustment? Any help or insight would be appreciated.

[Camfab]

It's a bad design and if you lubricate the mechanism they won't ever stay up.

[red heat]

So, my oem springs were getting a bit weak. They would hold the hood up, but if the car was on any slight incline , or a slight breeze would want to bring the hood crashing down. So I had ordered a new set of oem springs, and just got around to installing them this morning. Now with the new springs, the hood will not stay up by itself whatsoever. So my question, did I just get a set of "bad" new springs? Is there any sort of tension adjustment? Any help or insight would be appreciated.

same thing happened with me.... I spent a few hundred dollars on new ones and it got me nowhere.
I've just learned to use a prop rod on the hood when I open it. I know its a real half ass solution.

[Rxmfn7]

That sucks to hear..
My new ones are caked in some sort of grease. I can't see how it would effect it, being a spring.. but Ill take your word for it and maybe try and degrease them and see if that helps?

[Camfab]

Don't degrease the spring. It's the hinge itself you don't want to lubricate.

[Geronimo]

That sucks to hear..
My new ones are caked in some sort of grease. I can't see how it would effect it, being a spring.. but Ill take your word for it and maybe try and degrease them and see if that helps?It doesn't. These are junk. The spring tension isn't correct. I wonder what gen 5 uses since it's a clamshell? Anyone know or have any pics?

[AZTVR]

It doesn't. These are junk. The spring tension isn't correct.

I wonder if it is a lot related issue? My hood springs worked very well for 50,000+ miles (many hood openings and shuts) and at least 11 years.

[dave6666]

Good god this thread is hilarious.

* New OEM springs are $16 each. And someone paid hundreds for them? Are you shipping me?

* Widely known fact that the new springs, as do many new car parts, come coated in a preservative that acts as a grease.

* Widely known fact that you cannot lubricate the springs on a Gen 2.

Soooooooooooooooo, in summary, if you paid hundreds for the springs and don't have any money left to fill the tank, you're screwed. However, if you combine bullet points 2 and 3 and do have a full tank, drive the car to solve the problem. The dirt you will get on the springs will take care of the preservative.

* Helpful tip: degrease them, either before installation or as they are already in place on the car.

[Geronimo]

* Helpful tip: degrease them, either before installation or as they are already in place on the car.I degreased the ones you recommended before installation. Didn't help.

[Camfab]

My guess is that Chrysler engineers used a weak spring to minimize the likelihood of damaging the hood when closing at the final latch point. As most of the longtime owners know, how you close your hood can result in a cracked hood if done improperly. Personally I'd put a bunch of rags everywhere around and under the spring mechanism and spray all the pivot points clean with brake cleaner. And yes Dave is correct, I had a brain fart and forgot about the style of spring. Clean everything!

[Geronimo]

My guess is that Chrysler engineers used a weak spring to minimize the likelihood of damaging the hood when closing at the final latch point. As most of the longtime owners know, how you close your hood can result in a cracked hood if done improperly. Personally I'd put a bunch of rags everywhere around and under the spring mechanism and spray all the pivot points clean with brake cleaner. And yes Dave is correct, I had a brain fart and forgot about the style of spring. Clean everything!
Someone needs to come up with an alternative design.

[Special Ed]

Someone needs to come up with an alternative design.

Go ahead. You already have the testing device.

[Geronimo]

Go ahead. You already have the testing device.What does your gen 5 have? Take some pics.

[99RT10]

I degreased the ones you recommended before installation. Didn't help.

It's all Dave6666 fault...........................

[Special Ed]

What does your gen 5 have? Take some pics.

GenV uses gas shocks, doesn't use springs.

[Geronimo]

GenV uses gas shocks, doesn't use springs. Ok so where and what do they look like?

[AZTVR]

Ok so where and what do they look like?

From, eBay.
22449

[Geronimo]

Interesting. From the pic it looks like there is only one. Maybe this can be fitted to a gen 2? Need a better shot from the other side from a few angles.

[BlackSnake99]

Interesting. From the pic it looks like there is only one. Maybe this can be fitted to a gen 2? Need a better shot from the other side from a few angles.

My bet is that the Gen II hood is significantly heavier than a Gen V, so the hinges wouldn't hold.

[Geronimo]

My bet is that the Gen II hood is significantly heavier than a Gen V, so the hinges wouldn't hold. Maybe. My thinking is that this may work along with the stock springs. The gen 5 doesn't have any spring tension , just the air shock and it wouldn't take much.

[98RedGTS]

A single shock would work just fine if placed correctly and a bracket was made. I.E. the C4 hoods from 86L through 96 had a single shock that held it up. Their were two small helper shocks at the hinges to help the owner lift the hood but they don't hold it up.

My concern with a shock though is how the hood actually opens and closes. Does the Gen V pivot like the Gen II does to where the front lifts up first and then it all pivots up? It's that part where I think mounting a shock would be hard as the shock would have to be on some sort of hinge as well.

Interesting project for someone with the engineering skills. If you could make a kit and sell it for the right price I'm sure their would be a lot of buyer.

[Camfab]

Maybe. My thinking is that this may work along with the stock springs. The gen 5 doesn't have any spring tension , just the air shock and it wouldn't take much.
Just so no one is confused, those are gas springs, they are not shocks.

[ZZ SRT]

Weird. I bought the $16 OEM sale models. My old ones would stay up, but were weak and would fall if there was a big gust of wind or if I was parked on an incline.

The new ones are crazy stiff compared to my old ones and work great.

[Geronimo]

Just so no one is confused, those are gas springs, they are not shocks.Yes, my mistake. I had an 80's flashback.:orange:

- - - Updated - - -


Weird. I bought the $16 OEM sale models. My old ones would stay up, but were weak and would fall if there was a big gust of wind or if I was parked on an incline.

The new ones are crazy stiff compared to my old ones and work great.Did you degrease or bolt them straight up?

[ZZ SRT]

Yes, my mistake. I had an 80's flashback.:orange:

- - - Updated - - -

Did you degrease or bolt them straight up?

Bolted them on right out of the greasy bag ;)

[Geronimo]

Bolted them on right out of the greasy bag ;)Well damn, that theory doesn't hold water either. I guess it's hit and miss on these. At least they were cheap. Hopefully someone who owns a gen 5 will post some pics. I know there are a few who own a gen 5 and 2 so a side by side comparison would be nice with pics.

[Geronimo]

A single shock would work just fine if placed correctly and a bracket was made. I.E. the C4 hoods from 86L through 96 had a single shock that held it up.

Yes I've had a few and it acted as a hood prop once fully extended. It was on the drivers side but would be way to long and bulky to work. Nowhere for it to lay as hood is closed.

[Dan Cragin]

All the replacement springs I have purchased the last couple years have had the same issue. I think the new spring loose tension sitting on the shelf. You can shim the spring for more tension, that helps a little.

Dan

[LifeIsGood]

All the replacement springs I have purchased the last couple years have had the same issue. I think the new spring loose tension sitting on the shelf. You can shim the spring for more tension, that helps a little.

Dan

Please explain in more detail...thanks.

[AZTVR]

Now with the new springs, the hood will not stay up by itself whatsoever. So my question, did I just get a set of "bad" new springs?


same thing happened with me.... I spent a few hundred dollars on new ones and it got me nowhere.


Weird. I bought the $16 OEM sale models
The new ones are crazy stiff compared to my old ones and work great.


I guess it's hit and miss on these.


All the replacement springs I have purchased the last couple years have had the same issue. I think the new spring loose tension sitting on the shelf.

I'm back to thinking that it is a manufacturing lot related problem. Perhaps ZZ SRT got 3+ year old springs from a dusty back shelf.

I wonder if the issue is that the newer springs were not heat treated properly or were made with an improper grade of steel.

[BlackSnake99]

I guess now we know why they were $16.

[nrs1]

I sprayed mine with 3M Super 77 adhesive. Worked great for me, try at your own risk:anonymous:

[Geronimo]

I sprayed mine with 3M Super 77 adhesive. Worked great for me, try at your own risk:anonymous:On the spring or the whole assembly? I sprayed the spring with a black sealant but It wasn't strong enough. Helped a little. May try this and also look into the gen 5 gas strut.

[nrs1]

I pretty much sprayed anything that moved, any portion of the hinge/spring that looked like it would benefit from added friction.

[Geronimo]

I pretty much sprayed anything that moved, any portion of the hinge/spring that looked like it would benefit from added friction.How was closing the hood for the first time?

[nrs1]

It was stiffer the first couple times, but became less stiff after a few closings. But overall it stayed up after the spray glue treatment. It can still be on the edge if it is windy though. If I plan on leaving hood up for any length of time, I use a prop rod. That hood is too heavy, and seems like it would cause a lot of damage if it fell to trust it on its own, with that hinge design.

[Geronimo]

It was stiffer the first couple times, but became less stiff after a few closings. But overall it stayed up after the spray glue treatment. It can still be on the edge if it is windy though. If I plan on leaving hood up for any length of time, I use a prop rod. That hood is too heavy, and seems like it would cause a lot of damage if it fell to trust it on its own, with that hinge design.
I see. I use a prop as well.