q45 y33 1997-2001 Hood Strut Replacement Walkthrough

[willko1]

First these new struts went into a 2000 q45 but I assume that all 1997-2001 45's are same.
These are Strong Arm Nitrogen gas struts $39 for a pair(that incl S&H) from lift supports depot via e-bay http://www.ebay.com/itm/StrongArm-6317- ... 77&vxp=mtr.
These come with new Ball inserts! 7/16"
You can do this on your own but an extra set of hands is good.
You will need
something to support the hood with(strong and proper lengths 1"pvc 3.5' or another person.... and some have used adjustable crutches borrowed from local sports injury victims haha )
a 7/16 box wrench.
TWO 12mm box wrenches.
a 10mm wrench or ratchet; i suggest ratchet.
little bit of grease.
small flat head.
READ BELOW FULLY BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT

1. Remove new struts from box, (if you want to make sure they depress a little good luck but its almost impossible), as they are fully extended and the hood is heavy; I weigh 230 and it was really hard for me to get a tiny bit of travel in them the first time. It is important to slowly close your hood when they are just installed as you don't want to bend your hood if the strut is bound up and wont depress. I used a board my body weight plus momentum and my work bench to get the strut to move about half an inch; the first time they moved there was more resistance than the third (the struts will depress a little)

2.Put the brass nipples supplied with strut on the new struts, use small flat head, put little bit of grease in head socket.

3.Make sure the NEW strut Black Plastic Socket end on the chrome shaft is screwed in all the way and then line it up with other end i.e. both threads point same direction. THE CHROME END WILL BE POINTING DOWN
[img]http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/ ... .jpg[/img]

4. Put your hood up to the max height that the old struts will allow and wedge in your stick, or have someone hold it fully.

5.There is a flange with three 10mm bolts at the top of the old strut on the underside of the hood, begin loosening the bolts, note that if old struts are not fully extended they will put force against the flange and torque it to the side maybe even spring loose when all bolts are removed. (don't let it spring and loose your bolts in the engine compartment ) [img]http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/ ... .jpg[/img]

6. Remove old strut top from flange using TWO 12mm wrenches, keep washers and note stacking order

7. Remove bottom of old strut 12mm wrench, keep washers.

8. put NEW strut onto flange; black end to flange, use 7/16 for new brass nipple and 12mm for OEM nut. [img]http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/ ... .jpg[/img]

9. install NEW strut Bottom in first! use the 7/16 box wrench and old OEM Teflon and metal washer.

10 Install top flange with 10mm bolts try to get them all started first then snug them up.

11 Repeat as necessary [img]http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/ ... .jpg[/img]

[maxnix]

Ummm......I assure you all Nissans are metric (less the oil pressure sensor thread).

That's the way I replaced mine. Good write up. Maybe Wes will put in on Q45.org.

[Wiggler]

Thanks for the info.... good diagrams... but I'm having a problem with the bottom mount... I didn't get a second nipple for each strut and I ordered the exact same ones you did...

[Wiggler]

Disregard last post... found the extra two nipples in the box. Just completed the install. I don't know what I was fussing about... I did it in 1/2 an hour. The hardest part was removing the top OEM strut nipple from the flange. That thing required some OOOOMMMPH!! Anyway, you don't need an extra set of hands... just find the neighborhood crippled athlete and borrow his/her set of adjustable crutches...haha!

[willko1]

Ummm......I assure you all Nissans are metric (less the oil pressure sensor thread).

That's the way I replaced mine. Good write up. Maybe Wes will put in on Q45.org.

Ummmmm......I assure you the aftermarket brass nipples they send with the strut are 7/16 and the whole strut is a product of the USA and of good quality. Thanks for the props on the write up just trying to help.

[willko1]

Disregard last post... found the extra two nipples in the box. Just completed the install. I don't know what I was fussing about... I did it in 1/2 an hour. The hardest part was removing the top OEM strut nipple from the flange. That thing required some OOOOMMMPH!! Anyway, you don't need an extra set of hands... just find the neighborhood crippled athlete and borrow his/her set of adjustable crutches...haha!

I don't advocate any harm towards people with crutches you sick bastard!! Besides you will mess up your hood and bumper when you hit them.haha Good to see you had success, the flange nut was on there wasn't it.

[Wiggler]

I wonder what the actual weight of the hood on a FGY 33 is... seems like you could get some significant gains in power if someone made a lightweight carbon fiber hood for this thing. Mr. MAXNITCH old chap, would you be so kind as to enlighten us?

[Q451990]

Very nice write-up!

Heath

[willko1]

I wonder what the actual weight of the hood on a FGY 33 is... seems like you could get some significant gains in power if someone made a lightweight carbon fiber hood for this thing. Mr. MAXNITCH old chap, would you be so kind as to enlighten us?

Not sure what the weight is but I know I like the feel of a solid hood when it shuts and it stays in place, the carbon fiber would be very light but man they would be expensive and not sure how they would hold up in regards to flex noise etc.

[maxnix]

I wonder what the actual weight of the hood on a FGY 33 is... seems like you could get some significant gains in power if someone made a lightweight carbon fiber hood for this thing. Mr. MAXNITCH old chap, would you be so kind as to enlighten us?

None known unless Impul had one, which I don't recall. You don't want to mess with Infiniti Q45 hoods as they are part of the front end crush system and have a defined bend point so they don't come through the windshield and decapitate the front seat occupants.

[maxnix]

Ummm......I assure you all Nissans are metric (less the oil pressure sensor thread).

That's the way I replaced mine. Good write up. Maybe Wes will put in on Q45.org.

Ummmmm......I assure you the aftermarket brass nipples they send with the strut are 7/16 and the whole strut is a product of the USA and of good quality.

I thought they were made by Sachs? I remember mine being metric, but my memories are no longer always accurate. It's been at least 5 years since I replaced them.

[willko1]

I wonder what the actual weight of the hood on a FGY 33 is... seems like you could get some significant gains in power if someone made a lightweight carbon fiber hood for this thing. Mr. MAXNITCH old chap, would you be so kind as to enlighten us?

None known unless Impul had one, which I don't recall. You don't want to mess with Infiniti Q45 hoods as they are part of the front end crush system and have a defined bend point so they don't come through the windshield and decapitate the front seat occupants.

I think I like my head just where it is, good point Maxnix; if it ain't broke etc etc