Luis de Prat

...This should be easy, but I don't want to break anything.

I know about watching the hood corners from touching the windshield when replacing these , but on the late cars (1990 and 1991) I've noticed that unlike my 83, the hood shocks are held in place at the top with some plastic pins.

Haven't tried fooling with it yet, but from the looks of it I'm not sure out to get those pins out? Parts counter fellow at the dealer said nobody ever orders those pins, so I guess they're reusable?

Do you compress them with needle nose pliers to get them out? What's the trick?

Your help is much appreciated.

944_S_TYPE

The hood should not hit the windshield if you have the hinges still installed. My car has small metric bolt+nuts holding them on. Was really simple. Good luck....

BigRed

My hood scrapes my windsheild wipers...

944_S_TYPE

Hmmm, Do you have "high profile" wipers? Mabyee some lower ones would be better?

Zackb911

the clips are easy to remove and reuse. Im glad you know to be carefull but roll up some towels or something and put them in between the hood and windshield. I cracked a brand new windshield when I thought I was being carefull before...

Legoland951

Bigred, you may have an early hood for a late car. The late hoods should have a cutout for the wiper blades where the early ones don't. Have 2 people help you when you change the hood shocks. The high quality ones will be hard to press down so often you have to lift hard on the hood. Even if the hinges are perfectly bolted and in perfect working order, you can and will crack the windshield ESPECIALLY with a late car (bigger windshield). Have the other person lift the other corner of the hood opposite to you and make sure the hood does not hit. Move slowly so there is time to react.

BigRed

That's probably right. The hood doesn't really match the rest of the car, so that's the best explanation.

Rich Sandor

if you do one shock at a time, and remember to put a thick folded clotch between the hood and windshield, you can do it by yourself easily if you are careful. I've done it quite a few times. The trick is to have everything you need sitting on the strut tower ready & within reach. (one hand holding up the hood, the other mounting the shocks)

The circlip and pin come off easily and are 100% reusable.

Kelly Chiu

Anybody have a spare set of pins? The pivot pin the connects the shock to the hood attachment point, not the pivot point to the body. My dumbass dropped a pin into the engine while changing the shocks last weekend. If you do, PM me and we'll work out some arrangement, if not then its off the dealership.

Zero10

Hmm, I've changed 4 sets of hood shocks, and I've never cracked a windshield, in all of my experiences, the hood stays a good 2" from the windshield, though I always change them one at a time.

SamGrant951

My pass wiper hits the hood as well...

gtroth

Yeah, I pulled my passenger side shock, was just starting to check the fit of the new one - hmmm, just a little too long - crack. Brand new windshield down the tubes. What we need is a tool to slightly compress these things.

Peckster

Big ouch. Note to self: lay a sheet of plywwood on glass.

Unless you're from Alberta and never make mistakes.

Zero10

Hey now, go easy. I never said I don't make mistakes, I just don't understand how the hood hits the windshield.
On mine, I can put the hood straight up (vertical), and it still doesn't touch the windshield...

My tool to slightly compress these things is to install the ball end on the body, grab firmly with both hands, hood resting on shoulder, squish it down, and have somebody else slip the pin in.
It usually works within 3 or 4 tries, although you will get tired doing several of these in a row.

Mighty Shilling

Yeah...thats the way I did it, and it is a PITA