I just got my new hood dampers in the mail but I cant compress the pistons if i press them against a table as hard as I can. So question is, are you suppose to be able to compress them without having them installed?

I can compress my new Tokico shocks by hand so it seems odd that I shouldnt be able to compress hood dampers by hand

 

I couldn't compress mine either, put them on the car and they should work.