Front Strut Dis-assembly

#1

Reading through the archives (now) it appears I should have removed the top strut nut before removing the strut from the car. I didn’t and now the strut is on the work bench and I have spring compressors on the spring. How do I loosen and remove the strut nut without the strut shaft rotating? It sits down inside the strut bearing(?) and I cannot get a wrench on the nut and another on the top of the strut. Is there a special tool or am I just missing something completely obvious?
Bob

#2

I think I remember doing the same thing when I did mine. I think I ended up using an impact gun…

#3

You took the strut out the correct way in that the strut shaft nut should not be removed until the spring compressor is on. Removing that nut can sometimes be a challenge. Usually an impact wrench will spin it off. But in extreme cases I’ve had to take a cutting torch to the shock shaft. Before grabbing the cutting torch, try to get a pair of vice grips on the shock shaft.

#4

Vice grips on the shock shaft only if the shock is a throwaway. If you want to reuse the shock, wrap some type of thin rubber (like the drawer liner) and then use the vice grips. Or one of those rubber strap pipe wrenches, etc. You don’t want to mar the shaft.

#5

A couple of vice grips on the (throw-away) shock and an impact wrench were just the ticket. A piece of cake when you have the right tools. Thanks for the help.

Bob

#6

And if someone doesn’t have air tools, get a cheap 12-volt power impact gun. Harbor Freight Tools usually has them for about $30.00.

This tool has to spin-up to make the impact (feels like it’s stripped until it spins-up) and is slower than air but it works just fine.

Carter

#7

Carter Hunt wrote:

[quote]And if someone doesn’t have air tools, get a cheap 12-volt power impact gun. Harbor Freight Tools usually has them for about $30.00.

This tool has to spin-up to make the impact (feels like it’s stripped until it spins-up) and is slower than air but it works just fine.

Carter[/quote]Don’t buy the harbor freight impact…the "new version" is not as good as the older one. The pep boys one (Goodyear) is turning out to be the Grassroots priced one that actually is effective…