- First Name
- John
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2021
- Threads
- 36
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- 1,955
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- 2,583
- Location
- Charleston SC
- Vehicle(s)
- 2021 Bronco 4dr OBX MIC 2.7 Rear Locker A51 Roast
- Your Bronco Model
- Outer Banks
- Thread starter
- #1
I wanted a pair of struts to hold the hood open without using the prop rod. I open the hood to hook up the battery clamps on my air pump during beach season, and eventually hope to install a mounted air system.
I found there are two types of hood struts available. One system (RedLineTuning) mounts to the middle portion of the hood. I'd read that on some cars, the hood can be bent. Another strut system by MRT mounts to the hood hinge area, so I flipped a coin and went with the MRT hood strut system.
https://www.shopmrt.com/2021-Bronco...c_02L-jLznOBIS3tMM2ILy-1_2B_r2X4aAi8YEALw_wcB
(DEC 18 UPDATE: I added 2 photos comparing the attachment design choices of the two hood strut options available, MRT vs RedLineTuning. @Tex is thinking of installing the RedLineTuning model so we can have a real world comparison. This is good for all of us. It seems that the question is, "which attachment point puts the least stress on the hood." I dont want a bent hood, which I have heard is the danger with installing aftermarket struts on OEM prop-rod hoods!)
I bought part #80K110 from CJ Pony Parts for $137.99. With SC tax, free shipping, it was $150.41. I had to buy a metric 13mm double ended wrench for about $8. I'm generally handy, but no auto mechanic. After watching the video on the MRT web site, the job took about 90 minutes, because I took my time and the lower strut mount bracket bolt behind the fuse box (driver side) was very tight and a PITA. And I was a little nervous about unbolting the hood, which ended up OK.
The lower brackets are installed by using the 13mm wrench to loosen an existing bolt enough to slip the bracket over the bolt, then retighten. The drivers side is wedged against the fuse box, very tight. The passenger side has more room to work, and I could use a 13mm socket. But I had to loosen the bolt more to slide the bracket into place.
The upper brackets mount with the existing hood hinge bolts, but both nuts have to be removed to mount the bracket, and that means that the hood is moving around! I enlisted my son to hold the hood and hinge together while I mounted the upper brackets on both sides, and tightened. As the video said, the hood was painted with the hinge in place, so its fairly easy to slide the hood/hinge into position and tighten.
Here are shown the right and left brackets in position, and the struts clipped into their matching brackets.
Above, my son is holding the now-redundant prop rod in position, to show that the MRT struts hold the hood a few inches higher than the prop rod, which I like because I'm tall and don't want to hit my head while pumping my tires back up after a day on the beach.
Below, the wide view of the installed MRT Hood Struts
Vehicle: Outer Banks 4dr, A51, 2.7, MIC, Oct 7 Build, Oct 21 Delivery, Roast/Onyx Leather, High, 4.27 rear locker, Kuat Pivot Bike Rack. Charleston, SC.
Above, a photo of my OBX with MRT struts installed (orange note). I drew the approximate positioning of the RedLine Tuning strut for comparison (red notes).
Below, a photo from RedlineTuning with their struts. I drew the approximate position of the MRT struts in orange for comparison.
Which design is better, I don't know!?
I found there are two types of hood struts available. One system (RedLineTuning) mounts to the middle portion of the hood. I'd read that on some cars, the hood can be bent. Another strut system by MRT mounts to the hood hinge area, so I flipped a coin and went with the MRT hood strut system.
https://www.shopmrt.com/2021-Bronco...c_02L-jLznOBIS3tMM2ILy-1_2B_r2X4aAi8YEALw_wcB
(DEC 18 UPDATE: I added 2 photos comparing the attachment design choices of the two hood strut options available, MRT vs RedLineTuning. @Tex is thinking of installing the RedLineTuning model so we can have a real world comparison. This is good for all of us. It seems that the question is, "which attachment point puts the least stress on the hood." I dont want a bent hood, which I have heard is the danger with installing aftermarket struts on OEM prop-rod hoods!)
I bought part #80K110 from CJ Pony Parts for $137.99. With SC tax, free shipping, it was $150.41. I had to buy a metric 13mm double ended wrench for about $8. I'm generally handy, but no auto mechanic. After watching the video on the MRT web site, the job took about 90 minutes, because I took my time and the lower strut mount bracket bolt behind the fuse box (driver side) was very tight and a PITA. And I was a little nervous about unbolting the hood, which ended up OK.
The lower brackets are installed by using the 13mm wrench to loosen an existing bolt enough to slip the bracket over the bolt, then retighten. The drivers side is wedged against the fuse box, very tight. The passenger side has more room to work, and I could use a 13mm socket. But I had to loosen the bolt more to slide the bracket into place.
The upper brackets mount with the existing hood hinge bolts, but both nuts have to be removed to mount the bracket, and that means that the hood is moving around! I enlisted my son to hold the hood and hinge together while I mounted the upper brackets on both sides, and tightened. As the video said, the hood was painted with the hinge in place, so its fairly easy to slide the hood/hinge into position and tighten.
Here are shown the right and left brackets in position, and the struts clipped into their matching brackets.
Above, my son is holding the now-redundant prop rod in position, to show that the MRT struts hold the hood a few inches higher than the prop rod, which I like because I'm tall and don't want to hit my head while pumping my tires back up after a day on the beach.
Below, the wide view of the installed MRT Hood Struts
Vehicle: Outer Banks 4dr, A51, 2.7, MIC, Oct 7 Build, Oct 21 Delivery, Roast/Onyx Leather, High, 4.27 rear locker, Kuat Pivot Bike Rack. Charleston, SC.
Above, a photo of my OBX with MRT struts installed (orange note). I drew the approximate positioning of the RedLine Tuning strut for comparison (red notes).
Below, a photo from RedlineTuning with their struts. I drew the approximate position of the MRT struts in orange for comparison.
Which design is better, I don't know!?
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