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Did I break my strut?

I compressed the OEM spring and tried to unscrew the tophat nut. The rod the nut is attached to now moves and the nut won't unscrew. >.<

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Old 08-09-2013, 02:17 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Did I break my strut?

I compressed the OEM spring and tried to unscrew the tophat nut. The rod the nut is attached to now moves and the nut won't unscrew. >.<
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Old 08-09-2013, 02:32 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Try to loosen the nut under pressure first.

If it won't break loose? An impact gun air or cordless maybe needed

Once the nuts loose compress the spring
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Last edited by Trips; 08-09-2013 at 02:35 PM.
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Old 08-09-2013, 02:38 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Typically, you have to hold the inner rod from turning while loosening the nut. You may have to loosen the nut while the spring is under tension.
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Old 08-09-2013, 02:57 PM   #4 (permalink)
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F$%^$%^g suburb shops.I know which two to never go to. Neither would air gun them off for me.

I took the spring compressors off and no go. The rod still spins and I can't get a vice on the end -and- a wrench on the nut. Fabulous...coil overs anyone?
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Old 08-09-2013, 03:00 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Pull the dust boot down and grab the rod inside the spring with the vice grips. That should work.
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Old 08-09-2013, 03:04 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6spd View Post
Pull the dust boot down and grab the rod inside the spring with the vice grips. That should work.
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Old 08-09-2013, 03:18 PM   #7 (permalink)
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DUDE! Rep now and all the beer and women you want if you're ever in Minnesota!
lol you're welcome!
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Old 08-09-2013, 05:12 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Wahoo! Done! Well...with one front. Now for the other!
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Old 08-09-2013, 05:16 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Get an offset wrench to hold the rod and then the socket for the top nut
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Old 08-09-2013, 05:22 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trips View Post
Try to loosen the nut under pressure first.

If it won't break loose? An impact gun air or cordless maybe needed

Once the nuts loose compress the spring

Same issue as you, I went with an impact gun though.
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Old 08-09-2013, 06:10 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6spd View Post
Pull the dust boot down and grab the rod inside the spring with the vice grips. That should work.
If you do this you might as well throw the strut away!!

DO NOT DO THIS! Would you throw vise grips down into your cylinder and expect the piston rings to not leak because you scared the cylinder walls??

EVERY!! Strut has an allen head or 6 point nut or something on top to hold the shaft in place. Then a special socket needs lowered down over the main nut and break it lose. Ours happens to have two flat spots on each side where a 10mm wrench can go to hold the shaft.

Again if you spin the shaft to much, use vise grips etc on that rod you pretty much destroyed it because the seals will now leak.
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Old 08-09-2013, 06:12 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arrvaxx View Post
F$%^$%^g suburb shops.I know which two to never go to. Neither would air gun them off for me.

I took the spring compressors off and no go. The rod still spins and I can't get a vice on the end -and- a wrench on the nut. Fabulous...coil overs anyone?
And they're right to! Spinning the shaft without holding it still will destroy the seals. They're right not to impact them.
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Old 08-09-2013, 07:03 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Maybe we should edit the DIY stuff. Everything I read said use an air gun to get them off.

Quote:
Originally Posted by synolimit View Post
And they're right to! Spinning the shaft without holding it still will destroy the seals. They're right not to impact them.
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Old 08-09-2013, 07:46 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by synolimit View Post
If you do this you might as well throw the strut away!!

DO NOT DO THIS! Would you throw vise grips down into your cylinder and expect the piston rings to not leak because you scared the cylinder walls??

EVERY!! Strut has an allen head or 6 point nut or something on top to hold the shaft in place. Then a special socket needs lowered down over the main nut and break it lose. Ours happens to have two flat spots on each side where a 10mm wrench can go to hold the shaft.

Again if you spin the shaft to much, use vise grips etc on that rod you pretty much destroyed it because the seals will now leak.
Ok mr. know it all, whatever you say. Not like I haven't been a car mechanic all my life or anything
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Old 08-09-2013, 07:48 PM   #15 (permalink)
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I just held the shaft with a crescent wrench and backed the nut off with another. No problemo.
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