Thespeedline.com genwin hood strut kit

Discussion in 'Mazdaspeeds.org Official Parts Reviews Section' started by SharksInSpace, Jan 7, 2017.

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  1. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    Ahoy, boys and girls!

    If any of you genwon owners are like me, you've been looking for a bolt-in hood strut kit for some time. I've been wanting struts for a while but haven't wanted to mess around with drilling or riveting anything to my hood (which I understand is required for the Redline kits), and had never been able to find anything suitable.
    Welp, a couple of weeks ago I was reading through a random old thread and landed upon a link to thespeedline.com; I decided to peruse their offerings and, sure enough, they've got what they claim is a simple bolt-in kit for only $32.80! I placed an order on 12/23 and it arrived yesterday, 1/6 -- not too bad for being shipped from Taiwan! Total cost was about $61.xx

    Today, I did the insall and took an overabundance of photos. Let's start with the packaging and contents.

    They certainly didn't skimp on the bubble wrap or tape:
    20170107_141926.jpg
    Stripped and ready to open:
    20170107_142107.jpg 20170107_142119.jpg
    Contents (sweet pen, yo; it's got THREE colors, I know you're jealous):
    20170107_142313.jpg
    Extensive instructions:
    20170107_142522.jpg 20170107_142527.jpg
    Bracketing hardware for one side of the kit:
    20170107_143331.jpg

    Alright, let's get to the install. The lengthy list of tools required is: a 12mm and 10mm socket. That's it. Seriously. The directions say to use a small screwdriver to remove the spring clip from the ball joints, place them over the "nipple" (heh heh) on the bracket, and then replace the clip; I found that this was unnecessary, as the ball joint will simply pop right over the nipple (heh heh heh) with a minimal amount of force. So, onward!

    Step 1: Remove upper bolt securing hinge to hood.
    20170107_150010.jpg
    Step 2: Set bracket in place, including provided washer, and replace bolt to secure bracket to hood. The ball joint ends conveniently screw apart from the dampers, so you'll note that I've already attached the joint to the nipple (heh heh heh heh) prior to securing the bracket to the hood.
    20170107_150131.jpg
    Step 3: Remove bolt from fender lip and add to your OEM-spare bucket. While the upper bracket reuses the factory bolt, the fender bracket uses a longer bolt that is provided with the kit.
    20170107_150733.jpg
    Step 4a: Screw damper back to upper ball joint, and attach lower ball joint to nipple (heh heh heh heh heh) on bottom bracket. Unscrew bottom ball joint as far as may be necessary to line the bracket up with the hole; for me, it was only a partial turn.
    20170107_150912.jpg
    Step 4b: This step may be easier with a second set of hands to lift the hood; I was working alone, so I improvised and used my head as a support prop. You'll need to make sure the factory hood prop is down, so that you can lift the hood up far enough to line up the lower bracket with the hole in the fender lip. Use all included washers, top and bottom, to secure the bracket. End result will look like this.
    20170107_151150.jpg

    Repeat steps for the other side of the car, and here is your final product. I did not, as instructed, bother to trim the foam seal that runs across the back edge of the engine bay, I found that the dampers will simply compress it enough when the hood is closed. Don't mind my cap-less coolant reservoir, I had topped off and was burping the system.
    20170107_151716.jpg

    Don't forget the victory gyro for a job well done!
    20170107_155741.jpg

    A couple of things to note: One, while the brackets are labeled with L/R stickers, I found that they are from the perspective of sitting in the car and looking out; L was driver side, R was passenger side. Two, when opening the hood, you must lift it ALL the way in order to make the dampers catch; the cold (10* in the garage today) may have played a role in that during my testing and perhaps they'll catch slightly sooner once the weather warms up. You'll feel when they grab; if you let go of the hood any earlier, it will slam back down under its own weight.

    Final conclusions: This kit was balls easy to install, and the quality of the parts is higher than anticipated for the cost (again, only $61 including shipping from Taiwan to Wisconsin). The kit is so-far functioning as intended after a number of test opening/closings, and gives that cleaner appearance that I was hoping for by removing the necessity to use the factory hood prop. I will try to remember to report back later with how well/long the struts hold up before shitting the bed, but for now I am quite pleased to have found a functional kit that did not require me to put any new holes in the hood or fender. I'm sure I've over-explained what is a very straightforward process, but y'all can just deal with that.

    Here again is the link to the kit that I purchased: http://www.thespeedline.com/04-mazda3-5d-hb-hood-damper-lifter/

    Happy strutting!
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2017
    SharksInSpace, via a mobile device, Jan 7, 2017
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  2. Raider

    Raider Administraider Administrator Platinum Member

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    Lifts higher than the Redline ones I got. Nice and cheap option, too.
     
    Raider, via an iPhone, Jan 8, 2017
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  3. Quigs

    Quigs Greenie Member

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    I've been looking for an alternative to Redline as well, thank you for the review!
     
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  4. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    I'm impressed with the height, too; they actually lift higher than the factory hood prop, which is nice for added working room. I heard that the old CS kit for juans, for example, didn't provide very much actual lift, so I wasn't sure what to expect from this one. Results so far are impressive, so we'll see what the long-term durability of the dampers is.
    For sure, dude! I'd been searching periodically for the last year or two, and had never found any direct bolt-in kits. Once I found this one, I searched and searched and searched for reviews but wasn't really able to find any. Figured, for only $60 I'll play the guinea pig myself and let people know how they work; glad to see this thread be of use to others!
     
    SharksInSpace, via a mobile device, Jan 8, 2017
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  5. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    Quick update: A couple months on, and I couldn't be happier with this kit for the price. The engine bay feels far more spacious without having to work around the prop, and using the struts removes a factor that was previously a major annoyance for me when working under the hood. Highly recommended.
     
    SharksInSpace, via a mobile device, Mar 15, 2017
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  6. Youngwonder

    Youngwonder Greenie Member

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    I'll put these on my list.
     
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  7. KiwiFlavor

    KiwiFlavor Greenie N00B Member

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    Interesting.. They have a kit for genpu for $48. Might worth a try.
     
  8. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    SharksInSpace, via a mobile device, Mar 15, 2017
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  9. KiwiFlavor

    KiwiFlavor Greenie N00B Member

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  10. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    U kno I gotchu boii
     
    SharksInSpace, via a mobile device, Mar 15, 2017
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  11. Quigs

    Quigs Greenie Member

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    Holy crap, I had completely forgot about these until I saw this thread pop up again. With how annoying it has been to work around the hood prop while swapping turbos over the last couple days I think it's definitely time I order a pair.
     
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  12. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    But info on that turbo swap, tho? Whatcha droppin in?

    Ed; nvm just saw your post in the other thread about putting in the S3. Let us know what results you have once it's all tuned up!
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2017
    SharksInSpace, via a mobile device, Mar 16, 2017
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  13. Chef

    Chef Greenie Member

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    Thanks for the review! I've had my eyes on this exact set for a while now, I figured the cheap price would reflect in the quality of the product. Glad to see I was wrong, I'm gonna pull the trigger on these. Thanks @SharksInSpace


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Chef, via a mobile device, Mar 16, 2017
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  14. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    Happy to see it be of use! I'm sure we could spend more and maybe get "prettier" brackets or some shit like that, but I have zero complaints about this setup, and again...especially for the price. Time will tell if the strut life turns out to be short but for now, very happy with this kit.
     
    SharksInSpace, via a mobile device, Mar 16, 2017
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  15. Quigs

    Quigs Greenie Member

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    Haha, I wish the turbo swap is more exciting than it is. I know the S3 is a great turbo, but I still would've loved something more exciting. The problem is that my Speed was supposed to be "done" with mods and then I got the turbo for a deal from a friend. I'm supposed to be focusing on my track car, but now I'm back to dumping money into the Speed again! Haha.
     
  16. Awafrican

    Awafrican Moderator Gold Member

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    Awafrican, via a mobile device, Mar 20, 2017
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  17. Awafrican

    Awafrican Moderator Gold Member

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    Awafrican, via a mobile device, Mar 20, 2017
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  18. Awafrican

    Awafrican Moderator Gold Member

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    Thanks mang may have to grab a set
     
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  19. JohnnyTightlips

    JohnnyTightlips Motorhead Silver Member

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    I just installed these and they seem to work great. I will keep you posted if I have any issues.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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  20. Redline

    Redline I done fucked up for the last time. BANNED Greenie Member

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    I know, I know, I'm not for everyone ;)
     
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