Why do R35 GT-R owners replace the factory hood prop rod?

The R35 GT-R ships with an iron prop rod to hold the hood open, which is the same solution used on basic economy cars and sits noticeably out of place on a car at this level. Beyond the aesthetic issue, a prop rod requires two hands to operate, leaves the hood unsupported if accidentally dislodged, and does nothing to manage the impact the hood panel takes when it reaches full travel. The Top Secret hood dampers R35 GT-R solve all three problems with a bolt-on replacement that takes seconds to operate and protects the hood and hinges in the process.

Which variation do I need for my R35?

If your car is running the OEM hood, an FRP hood, or a standard carbon fiber hood on any R35 chassis, the standard variation is correct. If you own a 2017+ EBA-R35 running the Top Secret dry carbon aero bonnet specifically, select the EBA+ variation. Confirm your hood type before ordering; the two variations are not interchangeable.

Do these dampers require any modification to the hood or hinges?

No. The Top Secret hood dampers for the R35 GT-R are bolt-on and require no drilling, cutting, or modification to the existing hood or hinge hardware. Installation is straightforward for anyone familiar with the R35 engine bay.

Are gas-charged dampers reliable long term compared to a prop rod?

Yes. Gas-charged dampers are a sealed unit with no moving parts that wear in the traditional sense. The gas charge can weaken over many years of use, but on a car like the R35 that is not being opened dozens of times daily, the service life is long. They are the standard solution on virtually every modern European sports car and represent a significant durability improvement over a prop rod that can slip, corrode, or be damaged during engine bay work.

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Description

Top Secret Hood Dampers for R35 Nissan GT-R

The Top Secret hood dampers R35 GT-R owners have been fitting since the factory solution became an obvious weak point replace the iron prop rod the R35 shipped with, a support mechanism that belongs on a base economy car rather than a 600-plus horsepower sports car. The dampers are purpose-built for the R35 and work with OEM hoods, FRP hoods, and carbon fiber hoods; EBA+ owners running the Top Secret dry carbon aero bonnet have a dedicated variation available. The slow-down function is the detail that makes these worth fitting beyond the aesthetic improvement: as the hood approaches fully open, the dampers reduce the opening speed and absorb the impact that would otherwise transfer through the hood panel and hinges on every open cycle. On a carbon or dry carbon hood where panel rigidity and hinge stress matter more than on steel, that impact absorption is a practical benefit beyond convenience. Bolt-on fitment, no modification required.

Features

Replaces the factory iron prop rod with gas-charged hood dampers
Slow-down function reduces hood speed before full open
Compatible with OEM, FRP, and carbon fiber hoods
Dedicated variation for EBA+ (2017+) owners running the Top Secret dry carbon aero bonnet
Improves engine bay access and reduces wear on hood hinges over time
Bolt-on fitment, no modification required
Sold as a pair

Applications

Nissan GT-R: CBA-R35, DBA-R35, EBA-R35, 4BA-R35 | 2008-2025 | VR38DETT 3.8L V6 twin turbo

Notes

Sold as a pair
Select the correct variation for your hood at time of order; the standard variation fits OEM, FRP, and carbon fiber hoods across all R35 chassis, and the EBA+ variation is specific to 2017+ R35 owners running the Top Secret dry carbon aero bonnet

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do R35 GT-R owners replace the factory hood prop rod? The R35 GT-R ships with an iron prop rod to hold the hood open, which is the same solution used on basic economy cars and sits noticeably out of place on a car at this level. Beyond the aesthetic issue, a prop rod requires two hands to operate, leaves the hood unsupported if accidentally dislodged, and does nothing to manage the impact the hood panel takes when it reaches full travel. The Top Secret hood dampers R35 GT-R solve all three problems with a bolt-on replacement that takes seconds to operate and protects the hood and hinges in the process.
Which variation do I need for my R35? If your car is running the OEM hood, an FRP hood, or a standard carbon fiber hood on any R35 chassis, the standard variation is correct. If you own a 2017+ EBA+ running the Top Secret dry carbon aero bonnet specifically, select the EBA+ variation. Confirm your hood type before ordering; the two variations are not interchangeable.
Do these dampers require any modification to the hood or hinges? No. The Top Secret hood dampers for the R35 GT-R are bolt-on and require no drilling, cutting, or modification to the existing hood or hinge hardware. Installation is straightforward for anyone familiar with the R35 engine bay.
Are gas-charged dampers reliable long term compared to a prop rod? Yes. Gas-charged dampers are a sealed unit with no moving parts that wear in the traditional sense. The gas charge can weaken over many years of use, but on a car like the R35 that is not being opened dozens of times daily, the service life is long. They are the standard solution on virtually every modern European sports car and represent a significant durability improvement over a prop rod that can slip, corrode, or be damaged during engine bay work.

About Top Secret

Top Secret Co., Ltd. (株式会社トップシークレット, Kabushiki-gaisha Toppu Shīkuretto) is a renowned Japanese automobile tuner and parts manufacturer, founded by automotive engineer and driver Kazuhiko “Smokey” Nagata. The company is widely recognized for its expertise in tuning, aftermarket parts, body kits, and performance engineering. Top Secret’s product range includes aero components, exterior and interior parts, engine upgrades, exhaust systems, chassis, brakes, suspension, and powertrain enhancements. In addition to its products, Top Secret is also famous for its high-speed Wangan runs, as well as its involvement in professional drifting, circuit racing, and drag racing.

Additional Information

The Bulletproof Automotive website contains many thousands of products purchased in multiple different currencies. All of the prices are entered manually and accurately at the time of entry. Due to the consistently fluctuating international exchange rates, at times prices may not be able to be honored at their original intended rate. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, unfortunately our website is unable to compensate dynamically for what can at times be volatile changes in the cost of items due to currency values fluctuating, changes in prices from suppliers, changes in shipping and import duties, and other factors. Rest assured that any order you place on line will be at zero risk to you in this area. If in the event your order cannot be fulfilled at the original intended website price we will offer you a 100% refund, no questions asked. We will continue to do our best to maintain updated prices and we will always continue to offer our price match guarantees as well to ensure our prices are always the best for you. In short, prices may change without notice. It is always advised to give us a call prior to placing your order online to confirm availability and to confirm current pricing.

Shipping Policy

Items that are in stock in the US, either at Bulletproof’s warehouse or at a supplier’s warehouse, are generally delivered within 7-10 days. Special order items from overseas take considerably longer. As a courtesy Bulletproof offers delivery estimates to our customers which take into consideration manufacturer availability and shipping schedule. These estimates represent our best guess based on previous orders from the manufacturer and do not in any way imply a guaranteed delivery window. Many manufacturers work in a “just in time” inventory system and often take 2-20+ weeks to produce an item once an order is submitted. All deliverable items are then sent to our Japanese warehouse. Bulletproof ships a minimum of one full ocean freight container every month from Japan, oftentimes more than one a month. Ocean freight takes an average of 4 weeks. Typically it breaks down to one week in Japan for paperwork and customs, two weeks by boat and one week in US customs/clearance. Due to the wide number of variables between manufacturer and shipping schedules, delivery estimates are simply just that – estimates. We attempt to estimate conservatively and we usually deliver faster than our estimates suggest. It is not Bulletproof’s policy to guarantee delivery time of any special order item, this is impossible for us to do. By ordering you acknowledge that there is no required delivery ETA and an order may not be canceled or altered due to manufacturing or shipping delays, all ETA’s are provided as a best guess only. Please review the full Terms & Conditions here.

BP Pricing Difference

We do pricing a little differently on our JDM brands and we believe in making things simple and clear. No hidden fees or surcharges. Every price you see includes the shipping cost to our office in Los Angeles, California and all the associated taxes/duties/fees for bringing the products into the US. The only shipping you ever pay is from our facility in the US to your location. Be wary of resellers that don’t include the cost of international shipping in their pricing on JDM parts. While we believe we’ll always have the lowest all-in price on JDM products, we offer a price match guarantee for all authentic parts purchased from authorized dealers as well. For many international customers, it’s much more affordable to ship from the USA than from Japan directly, as the air freight and ocean freight costs are typically much less. However, for customers looking to ship directly from Japan outside of North America, or domestically in Japan, we can provide pricing specifically for that scenario. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any pricing questions or concerns. Please email us at sales@bulletproofautomotive.com with any inquiries.

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