How to Replace Hood Struts on 94 Q45

[AlabamaDan]

So, I was surprised to find this 90 or 93 (I forget which one) in the junkyard with really great hood struts. Really pushed the hood up and kept it up. So I pulled them off. Something like $2 each. Tonight I was going to install them on my 94 (they look the same) but ran into a problem.

I was a little more reckless taking them off the junker than I want to be with my Q. How in blazes do you get that bottom bolt off. I'm trying to use a 12mm open ended wrench, but when I turn it just a little I can't pull the wrench out to get a new grip.

Anyone got any tips or tricks?

[96Qowner]

Haven't done it myself, Dan, so this was the best I could find:

qsiguy: "To get the old ones off you have to unscrew the ball joint with a 12mm end wrench."

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[AlabamaDan]

Yeah he mentioned having to bend a little sheet metal close to that lower ball to get it out. That's what I did on the donor car, but didn't want to do it on my own Q.

[qsiguy]

Ya, I couldn't get it without bending it a little. If you do a clean bend only as much as needed it's not noticeable. I don't think I had to bend the metal to get the old ones off, just to let me use the aftermarket struts I was using. They were just slightly different and would hit the sheet metal when the hood was up.

[AlabamaDan]

I DID IT! ! !

With a little patience and a stubby wrench I was able to do it. The shorter wrench was the key. It's all about having the right tools.