My new hood hinge springs bent my genuine GM hinges! Crap!

[derotoreut]

I'm ticked... I bought nice genuine GM hood hinges from Wes at Classic Heartbeat. The aftermarket hinge springs that I bought were so strong that they bent the hinges inward and ruined them. The genuine GM hinges weren't cheap either. Anyone else have this problem?

[Lee H]

I used repo springs from Brothers with original GM hinges without issue. Where did the springs come from? Posted via Mobile Device

[derotoreut]

Originally Posted by Lee H

I used repo springs from Brothers with original GM hinges without issue. Where did the springs come from? Posted via Mobile Device

Hinge springs came from GMC Pauls.

[Lee H]

Yikes!
Posted via Mobile Device

[derotoreut]

Anyone else have this problem with aftermarket hinge springs?

[TBONE1964]

That really sticks. How hard were the springs to install? It sounds like the new springs may have been a little short. You need to measure a factory one against your spring from GMC Pauls and make sure they are the same length. The factory hood hinge spring have very little tension on them when the hood is open. If the springs are too short, I can see how it would bend the hinges.

If the GMC Pauls springs are incorrect, I would be making some calls.

[derotoreut]

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

That really sticks. How hard were the springs to install? It sounds like the new springs may have been a little short. You need to measure a factory one against your spring from GMC Pauls and make sure they are the same length. The factory hood hinge spring have very little tension on them when the hood is open. If the springs are too short, I can see how it would bend the hinges.

If the GMC Pauls springs are incorrect, I would be making some calls.

The aftermarket springs were the same length, but I think the spring tension was much stronger than it should have been. It was so strong that it bent the hinge around, so the angled striker would not rest on the stop. It twisted it around it.

The springs need to extend about 1" from the relaxed position to be installed on the hinges. In order to install them, I placed a spring on my floor jack to extend it. I then put wooden shims in between several coils. This extended the springs enough to get them on the hinges. I used wood so I wouldn't scratch the new springs, but the wood was tough to get back out. I then pressed on the hinge to extend the spring in order to remove each piece of wood.

[Lee H]

Just for reference, I installed my NOS springs on my NOS hinges (real NOS, not the new stuff with bar codes) with a large screw driver, just pried them over. It did not take much pressure, certainly not a hydraulic jack.
Posted via Mobile Device

[TBONE1964]

To add to that,

I bolted my hinges on, without the hood on, hooked the rear side of the spring and used a fan belt on the front side and gave it a good pull and they both set right in place. The belt may get on the wrong side of the spring in which case just cut it (junk belts work best for this). I used a lot of blankets around the back side and below just in case the spring fell down.

[Tinkermc]

LeeH they should not be real hard to install.

[leddzepp]

I used OEM hinges and springs from a low mileage truck that were in near perfect condition. The springs were not difficult to install, as stated above. I have never heard of hinges (NOS, used, or repop) ever being bent by a spring. They obviously have too much tension if they measure the same. Can you compare the tension in them vs. your old ones?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Square_78]

I have also installed new springs. They should be fairly easy to pry on using a big screwdriver or small pry bar as stated above. If you needed to use a hydraulic jack to install them, them I'd be willing to guess you have the wrong springs.
Posted via Mobile Device

[derotoreut]

I did a search on this forum and found out that other people have used the floor jack method to install hood springs. Some used wrenches in between the coils as spacers to extend the springs. I also know that the new aftermarket springs are a lot stiffer then my old original springs. I would have used my original springs, but they were all pitted and weren't the best with brand new hinges. Like I said, I replaced the hinges with new genuine GM hinges, so I thought I would replace the springs too. Big mistake. Found out that GMC Pauls springs are not the best.