Hood struts - one or two? XC 70, 2006.

**Tipster1947** · 05-27-2017, 12:55 PM

Hood falling down.

My car has just one strut on the driver's side and there is no evidence of another on the passenger (right) sided. Possible mounting sites are closed off with rivets that were painted at time of whole body assembly.

Shopping around, some sites and searches, including IPD suggest two struts per car. Amazon says one or two. Any clue as to what is going on?

2006 XC70

**billr99** · 05-27-2017, 01:42 PM

All of mine have had two.

Cheers,

Bill

**Astro14** · 05-27-2017, 01:56 PM

Two! It should have TWO

**tmcmilli** · 05-27-2017, 02:03 PM

Definitely 2 struts (I can't imagine how one would hold) and my advice is don't get the cheapest ones you can find. I bought the first set locally from one of the chain store auto parts stores. I thought at the time, hey that's great I can buy them locally in stock. They were fine at first but they didn't even last for 3 years before they started barely holding again to where a gentle wind in the right direction would cause the hood/bonnet to lower without warning. Eventually they would just barely hold on their own and I had to raise the hood and then hold it there for a few seconds to make sure. Then it lowered and banged me on the head one time while I was replacing a head lamp or something and I said, that's it, no more. The most recent set I purchased 6 months ago from FCP Euro, the brand is Stabilus and from the outset they felt like they provided more resistance than the first set when raising and lowering them. As one would expect they are still working perfectly. They were also maybe 30% more expensive (almost $22 apiece) but that is irrelevant if you buy something like I did the first time which turns out to be a waste of money.

My two cents.

**Astro14** · 05-27-2017, 03:25 PM

Stabilus makes the OE struts.

Don't use the cheap ones, get the stabilus units from FCP or IPD.

And when you do the rear hatch struts, definitely don't go cheap...

**Rabid Koala** · 05-27-2017, 06:14 PM

My 06 only had one, so that is what I replaced. Those hatch struts were a pain!

**Tipster1947** · 05-29-2017, 05:07 AM

Thank you all for replies. Amazon question was also similarly contradictory. Since the only source that specs out a single strut is Amazon for a single Stabilus strut, I'll give that a try and report back. Good news is returns are free.

**youropeen** · 06-01-2017, 03:14 AM

Starting in 2006 they only put one strut to hold the hood.

**albertj** · 06-01-2017, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by youropeen

Starting in 2006 they only put one strut to hold the hood.

Is is possible that in '06 they switched from a steel to aluminum skin for the hood? I've never checked on my '07, actually. Didn't think about it. Point is that the aluminum would be lighter and one strut might be adequate (to last through the warranty period)?

**billr99** · 06-01-2017, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by albertj

Is is possible that in '06 they switched from a steel to aluminum skin for the hood? I've never checked on my '07, actually. Didn't think about it. Point is that the aluminum would be lighter and one strut might be adequate (to last through the warranty period)?

Nope. All of my P2s have had an aluminum hood and 2 struts.

Cheers,

Bill