Replaced Hood Lift Supports

Since we've hit the cold season here in north Alabama, I was concerned about the old hood lift supports failing and getting hit in the head while working on the truck. I've used a particular vendor to supply replacement struts for the hatch and hood on my wife's car and the hood on mine. Each time they've been great on price and service. Their website is LiftSupportsDepot and they're also on ebay as "mrlousstuff".

I paid $34.90 for a pair including shipping. When they arrived, I removed one of the originals, but couldn't get the ball joint out to reuse it no matter how hard I tried. Finally, I called the vendor and they said my supports should have come with replacement ball joints. This is because the original ball joints were hydraulically pressed into the supports and won't come out. They sent the replacement joints for free by 2-day air and everything fit like a glove.

 

Cool. I assume these are easy to install?

 

@FirstGenVol Yes, it takes about 3 minutes to install both. (You need a buddy or a dowel rod to support the hood.) There is a clip on each end that holds on to the ball joints. You just use a flathead screwdriver to pull that clip out slightly to remove the support at each end. Then all you have to do is press the recess of the new support over the ball joint to snap it into place.

 

(Added a photo to the OP)

 

Anyone else do this recently? Mine are starting to go out.

 

@Flyinryank I have used replacement lift supports from this vendor now on 4 different Toyota/Lexus vehicles. The last was a Toyota Sienna that belonged to a single mom who thought she was going to have to spend a lot of money to fix her automated rear lift gate. A new pair of supports got her back in business for around $40. (I have no affiliation with this vendor. I've just been very pleased with their product and service.)