Red said:I would like the input from others who have had this problem and what results they had if they replaced the assist struts.
At some point in production (I think 87), there is only one assist shock, and in 88 or 89 there are none. I've never learned why this is so, and I can't recall the exact years, but I know on many C4's there no supports, just the pins they go on.
I have an 85 that I purchased new. It has 2 assists. In the beginning, the hood wasn't too tough to open. Even my 115lb lady friend that drove the car often could open it. It sat un-driven for almost 15 years until 2006 when I began its NCRS campaign. By then the hood was very heavy to open. I purchased 2 replacement supports from GM. They helped quite a bit, but I don't recall that it was as easy to lift as it was when it was new. (Maybe I'm getting old and weak?). I suspect the replacements were partially discharged when I purchased them. Because the supports have date codes, I put the originals back on for NCRS judging. I'm not sure which supports are on there now, but it is very heavy to open again, so if the replacements are on it, those have now gone bad too. I open the hood less than a half-dozen times a year, so I don't really care.
Take away is the replacements may not be any good either (shelf life) as far as gas charge, or last very long. My replacements didn't. I'd purchase the replacements from a FLAPS. $30 each would be a reasonable guess for cost.