Strut won't come off!!!!!
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Well yesterday I went to put my lowering springs on the SS and I got 3 done before coming to the passenger strut. The bolt that holds the strut on will not come off. It looks to be pretty rusted but I did move it. It came to within about 2 threads of coming off then just stopped. Now when I turn it, the whole rod turns inside the strut. I tried vice grips and a crescent wrench to try to hold it while I turn the nut but that bitch aint movin. I sprayed wd-40 on it also, still no luck. Anyone know how to get this off?????
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Yea sounds like you need to cut it off. When I did mine the top nut wouldnt budge at all with any of the hand tools I had so I had my friend take them to work to use a Impact gun on it and he said it came right off.
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I'm going to soak mine with penetrating oil the night before I do mine. I don't think they're very rusty, but given the number of guys having to cut/grind theirs off, I may play it safe.
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This exact same thing happened to me. I spent about a half hour messing with it before it came off.
With the strut in a strut compressor, I sprayed it with a lot of PB Blaster, held the rod with curved-jawed vice grips, and I used a 1000 ft lb. impact gun and just kept on spinning the nut till it came off. It did take two people to do all that at once though.
I tried it with a weaker impact gun and about 5 other pairs of pliers and it didn't work. You just need the right combination of tools. It should be possible without cutting the shock.
With the strut in a strut compressor, I sprayed it with a lot of PB Blaster, held the rod with curved-jawed vice grips, and I used a 1000 ft lb. impact gun and just kept on spinning the nut till it came off. It did take two people to do all that at once though.
I tried it with a weaker impact gun and about 5 other pairs of pliers and it didn't work. You just need the right combination of tools. It should be possible without cutting the shock.
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Originally Posted by Bad Blu Formula
This is a dumb thing to get stuck on. I would have figured that the front shocks would have been the problem. Anyways, like everyone is saying just let is soak with something or just take a torch to it.
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I used a pair of needle nose vise grips, on the actual shaft of the strut itself, peeping up the rubber boot on it. It was a huge pain in the ***. I did however use a spring compressor to take the stress off the nut. But again, soak it in PB blaster or something like that, and it should come off, if not, cut it....good luck...
rob
rob
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you can take some channel locks and have someone clamp down on the shaft that is spinning. you might have to cut the plastic thing a little bit that sits between the strut mount and the strut. Then zip it off with an impact wrench. I did four cars and I had to do that every time.
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Well, I ended up having to cut the strut off. I went ahead and replaced both front struts though. I am very happy with the outcome of the springs though, I'll post up some pics later. Thanks for the help.
-Sean
-Sean