Kenworth T660 Hood Struts — Heavy-Duty Replacement Hood Shocks

Easier, Safer Hood And Tailgate Lift

High-strength gas struts provide powerful lift support, allowing heavy truck hoods, tailgates, and cargo doors to open smoothly and stay securely in place, minimizing accidental drops, injuries, or damage.

Durable & Versatile Design

Featuring standard ball or metal hinge connectors, heavy-duty struts can be quickly replaced without special tools. Their simple design requires minimal maintenance, reducing overall operating costs.

Durable and Reliable in Harsh Conditions

With thick steel cylinders, corrosion-resistant coatings, and high-quality seals, these struts perform reliably in extreme temperatures, dust, rain, and snow, offering a longer lifespan than standard struts.

GASTAC heavy-duty truck hood struts are direct-fit replacements for OEM hood lift assemblies across major commercial truck brands. Each hood strut is matched to the specific hood weight and hinge geometry of the target model, so the hood opens to full height and holds securely without drifting.

Kenworth T660 / T680 Freightliner Cascadia Peterbilt 579 Volvo VNL Mack Granite International ProStar
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Leading Gas Spring Manufacturer

One of China's leading gas spring manufacturers, building truck hood struts to the same specifications as major brands.

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Cost-effective Solution

Priced at roughly one-third of branded OEM parts — without compromising quality or fitment.

Heavy-Duty Truck Hood Shocks

A failing hood strut can turn routine maintenance into a safety hazard. GASTAC manufactures high-performance gas struts engineered to handle the extreme demands of commercial trucking. Our hood shocks feature high-strength seamless steel cylinders, multi-lip oil seals, and corrosion-resistant coatings to ensure smooth, controlled lifting in the toughest environments.

Looking for a specific part? Click on any product title below to view complete technical specifications, OEM cross-reference numbers, and purchasing options in our online store. For bulk orders, custom forces, or OEM manufacturing, please contact our sales team.

Have an OEM number? We’ll confirm the replacement.

Every product on this page is a direct-fit replacement for the OEM number shown on its card. If you’re sourcing against a specific part number and need written confirmation of interchangeability before ordering, send us your list.

What we confirm

OEM number match, force rating, stroke length, and end-fitting compatibility

How to start

Email your OEM list to sales@gastac.com — reply within 24h

Note: We match by OEM part number, not by VIN or model year. If you only have a VIN, your dealer can provide the OEM number for cross-reference.

Advanced Design & Technical Features

Kenworth T660 Hood Struts
  • OEM-Grade Materials: High-strength steel tubing, corrosion-resistant coatings, and precision seals ensure durability even under extreme conditions.
  • Push Force & Stroke Options: Struts are available in multiple forces (e.g., 200–2000 N) and strokes (300–2000 mm), compatible with a wide range of truck hoods.

  • Long Life Cycle: Tested for tens of thousands of open-close cycles, ensuring reliability for years.
  • Smooth Operation: Gas/hydraulic system prevents sudden drops or slams, reducing hood hinge stress and protecting the engine bay.

​​​​Heavy Duty Truck Hood Shocks Benefits

  • Wide Compatibility – Fits most heavy-duty truck hoods, including Kenworth, Freightliner, Volvo, and Mack.
  • Reliable Manufacturing – Over 20 years of expertise in gas spring technology ensures consistent quality.
  • Customizable Options – Various forces, lengths, and end fittings to match specific hood designs.
  • Cost-Effective – Durable products reduce replacement and maintenance expenses over time.
  • Enhanced Safety & Convenience – Smooth, controlled hood operation protects users and simplifies maintenance.

When Should You Replace Your Hood Struts?

Heavy-duty hood struts wear out gradually. Most T660 owners don't notice the decline until the hood becomes hard to lift or fails to stay open. Use this checklist to diagnose failing struts before they become a safety hazard.

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Weak or Uneven Support

  • The hood feels noticeably heavier than before when lifting.
  • The hood drops slowly or suddenly instead of holding position.
  • One side feels weaker than the other (uneven lift).
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Physical Damage & Leaks

  • Oil residue or grease around the cylinder body or piston rod.
  • Rust, pitting, or corrosion on the piston rod surface.
  • Dents, cracks, or bent cylinder tubes.
  • Damaged or loose ball sockets / end fittings.
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Abnormal Operation

  • Jerky, sticking, or noisy movement during open / close.
  • Hood does not open to its full designed height.
  • Excessive side-to-side play at the mounting points.
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Age & Mileage

  • Struts have been in service for more than 5–7 years.
  • High-mileage fleet trucks with frequent hood cycling.
  • Previous replacement used low-quality aftermarket parts.

✅ Rule of thumb: If you notice any two of the symptoms above, replace both hood struts as a pair. A failed strut can let a heavy T660 hood fall without warning — a serious injury risk during engine bay inspections.

Installation & Compatibility

  • Easy DIY Installation – Designed for quick setup with standard brackets and ball sockets, no drilling needed.
  • Wide Vehicle Compatibility – Fits heavy-duty trucks like Kenworth, Freightliner, Volvo, Mack, and more.
  • Flexible Mounting Options – Multiple end fittings ensure a perfect match for different hood designs.
  • Low Maintenance – Durable gas/hydraulic system reduces hinge wear and ensures smooth operation.
​Heavy Duty Trucks Struts installation

How to Install Kenworth T660 Hood Struts Safely

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SAFETY WARNING — READ FIRST

Never work under or around an unsupported hood. A Kenworth T660 hood is heavy and can cause severe injury or death if it falls.

  • Always use a hood prop rod, safety hood strut, or a second person to hold the hood open before removing any hood strut.
  • Do not rely on the old gas hood strut to hold the hood while you work.
  • Wear safety glasses and gloves during removal and installation.
1

Prepare the Vehicle

  • Park on a level surface, engage parking brake, turn off engine.
  • Let the engine bay cool down before working.
  • Open the hood and secure it with a prop rod or assistant.
  • Take photos of the old hood strut orientation before removal.
2

Remove the Old Hood Strut

  • Support the hood with one hand or a prop.
  • Use a small flat-head screwdriver to lift the retaining clip on the ball socket.
  • Pull the socket off the ball stud — do not pry or twist forcefully.
  • Repeat for the upper and lower mounting points.
3

Install the New Hood Strut

  • Compare the new hood strut to the old one — length, stroke, and end fittings must match.
  • Press the socket onto the ball stud until you hear an audible "click".
  • Verify the retaining clip is fully seated.
  • Install the upper mount first, then the lower, or as per OEM procedure.
4

Test & Verify

  • Slowly lower the hood and let the new hood struts take the load.
  • Open and close the hood 2–3 times to check for smooth operation.
  • Confirm the hood holds at full open height without drifting down.
  • Check for any binding, noise, or interference with other components.

💡 Always replace hood struts in pairs. Replacing only one side creates uneven load, causing the new hood strut to wear faster and the hood to sit crooked. GASTAC recommends replacing both left and right hood struts at the same time, and inspecting the hood hinges and ball studs for wear while you're there.

Not Sure Which Hood Strut Fits Your Truck?

Safety & Compliance

GASTAC hood struts are engineered to meet or exceed OEM performance and safety standards for heavy-duty truck applications.

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Manufactured to the same force, stroke, and mounting dimensions as OEM part numbers such as A1716391002.

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Coating verified under 144-hour salt spray testing (ASTM B117), stable from −40°C to +80°C at 95% relative humidity.

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Cycle-tested for 50,000 open/close operations to confirm consistent force output and leak-free sealing.

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Cylinder bodies made from high-quality seamless steel tubing with no welding, for higher burst strength and no weld-line fatigue.

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Every unit is checked for force, stroke, and seal integrity before shipment — no batch sampling, 100% inspection.

⚠️ Recall Notice for Kenworth T660 Owners

Certain Kenworth T660 model years were subject to OEM safety recalls related to hood strut and hood lock function, which could allow the hood to close unexpectedly. If your truck falls under an OEM safety recall, contact your authorized Kenworth dealer first — recall repairs are performed free of charge before considering aftermarket replacement.

⚠️ Note: Always follow the vehicle manufacturer's service procedure. Improper installation can result in hood failure and serious injury. If you are unsure, have a qualified technician perform the replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Send us the OEM part number you are sourcing and we will confirm the matching Gastac product, force rating and fitment. Our OEM cross-reference index above lists 20+ part numbers across Kenworth, Freightliner, Peterbilt, Volvo, Mack and International. We match by OEM part number, not by VIN or model year.
Yes. MOQ is 50 pcs per model, and mixed-model orders are accepted. This allows distributors to stock multiple truck brands without committing to a single high-volume SKU. Send your model mix and target quantities and we will confirm pricing and packaging.
Lead time is quoted per order based on model mix, quantity and customization requirements. Contact our sales team with your target quantity and we will confirm production and shipping schedules.
Yes. Sample orders are available for fitment and force verification before bulk commitment. This lets you confirm the replacement matches your OEM specification before ordering in volume. Contact sales@gastac.com with the OEM number you need sampled.
Always replace hood struts in pairs. If one hood strut has failed, the other is usually at the end of its service life too. Replacing only one side creates uneven load, makes the hood sit crooked, and causes the new hood strut to wear out faster. GASTAC recommends replacing both left and right hood struts at the same time.
Yes. GASTAC hood struts are designed as direct-fit replacements for the Kenworth T660 hood. They use the same ball socket and mounting dimensions as the OEM hood strut, so no drilling or modification is required. Always verify the part number against your truck year and hood configuration before ordering.
Match the OEM part number or cross-reference the original force rating. For the T660, typical hood strut force is in the 800–1200 N range depending on hood configuration. If the hood feels too easy to lift or will not stay open, the force rating is too low. If it is hard to close, the rating is too high.