Help my dumb@$$, please
 

So, I was messing around w/ my hood struts and snapped it on the wrong place. Is there any way to separate it?

A picture is worth one thousand words.

Sorry...meant to do this initially.

I think I did the same thing too when I got mine. You just have to try to pry them apart gently. Attach the strut so you have more leverage.

I've pulled and tried to pry it out as hard as I'm comfortable with doing and no luck. Am I overlooking a simple way or is that just how it is?

In all directions?

There is usually a inner ring in a groove near the end of the round part. You may have to remove it to get it apart. This ring is tight and when you try and pry it apart it is made to be hard to separate.

I see it. How do I open it up to get it free?

It probably won't be easy. Time for some Redneck Engineering. :) Most retainers I've seen were of the ring-in-groove type if that helps any.

You're not wrong about it being difficult. It being so small and hard to hold on to doesn't help, either. It is the same ring in groove style. Size again is the issue. I emailed Z1 about getting just those 2 pieces, but I assume it'll be Monday before I hear back.

Do you need to get it apart? Can you not just attach that piece to the strut and then screw it to the car ( I assume this is the part that that goes to the car body). Or screw it to the car and then attach the strut to it?

You're right. I'm an idiot. I just kinda panicked and it didn't even process what piece this was. Thanks everybody.

Like I said, I think I did the same thing. Just had to remember how I dealt with it. Glad to see you are back on track.