Local GM dealership as needs to order the $35 OEM one, and Autozone and O'reilly's both need to order the aftermarket $18 one made by Stabilus. Started leaking hydraulic fluid after 9.5 years and won't hold the hood up anymore.

Anyone have experience with Stabilus? I read somewhere they probably make the same one for the manufacturer. Some others stated there's a difference in force, it doesn't operate as smoothly, and various complaints.

Anyone have experience with these? Leaning towards the OEM one. Figure if the first one lasted 9 years, the second one should last the remainder of the life of the vehicle. Thoughts

I've been very happy with Redline

I bought a pair of Stabilus trunk strut dampers off of Amazon and they are great. Identical to the OEM Mercedes ones at a fraction of the cost.

Also, the trunk gets used more often than the hood. This is the 3rd set following the originals and a pair the dealer replaced. The stabilus ones are out performing.

agdoc2001 said:

---

I've been very happy with Redline

---

Had redlines in the past. Was very happy with them.

Whoop Delecto said:

---

I bought a pair of Stabilus trunk strut dampers off of Amazon and they are great. Identical to the OEM Mercedes ones at a fraction of the cost.

Also, the trunk gets used more often than the hood. This is the 3rd set following the originals and a pair the dealer replaced. The stabilus ones are out performing.

---

Nice thing with Stabilus (and prob most of the strut companies) is they have different lift weights in the same strut size. I found a good combo that will open my GTO's trunk fully with just the remote instead of it just popping up 1/2" when unlocked

Haven't used the hood ones, but have replaced trunk ones with aftermarkets when they wore out several times. no issues with whatever come up on Amazon.