I've got everything off, but I can not get the large retaining nut that holds the sturt cartridge in, out! I'm using channel locks now, but it will not move. Is it a reverse thread? I'm going to the left now!

 

I use a pipe wrench. You may need to soak the nut with PB blaster first.

 

That's brutal,lol. Right about the Pb blaster, best penetrant have ever used.
It's a standard nut not reverse thread. Trick is to keep everything attached so that there is weight pulling downward on the nut. Usually what happens it just turns unless you are using a air impact or electric impact.

 

Just say counter-clockwise. I thought you were about to swap into a Democrat or something.

 

oh man was that a bear to get off for me, luckily i work at a hardware store so i had access to the channel lock "BigAzz" pliers. The things 20" long and that solved my problem. hopefully you have a vise, pipe wrench, and a peice of pipe for leverage

 

Yep, was pretty rough for me too. Strained myself when i lifted my impact gun up above chest level,lol. rx7doctor

 

Doc, not to bust chops, you cannot get an impact gun on that nut unless you have a deep socket 15" deep.

 

He's thinking the nut on the top of the actual shock, not the big bastard that hold the cartridge into the strut housing/spindle. I used a two pipe wrenches and a hammer to shock it.

 

OOps, thanks for the correction, yes i was thinking(or in this case not thinking) about the top nut. rx7doctor

 

Thanks for the responses guys! Igot it off with a vice and pipe wrench. My god that was on there.

 

impact wrench worked perfect for me when I go to that nut.

 

I used a 3 foot pipe wrench on the last set I did.

 

I stuck mine in a vice then used my impact gun to pop her off

 

Did you guys that used a impact cut the shock piston off first or do you have an 18 or so inch deep socket?

 

No, I believe everyone (most everyone) is referring to the nut on the END of the shock piston, not the 8 sided nut that keeps the strut cartridge inside the strut housing.

 

This whole thread gets funnier all the time. I posted first my reply, then reread the origional post, and had to edit the entire thing.

I thought it was the top nut at first too.

Don't feel bad Doc, it's nice to see some of the more knowledgeable members faux paux once in awhile.

 

Yep thats the nut I'm talking about! I had no problem with the impact gun on the top nut. Its the skinny large nut at the base thats the bitch.