Greetings,

I'm getting ready to upgrade my front suspension with Coilovers and Tokico Illuminas and I'm actually stuck at a somewhat basic part. I Have the Spring compressors on and am trying to get the top nut off the shocks to remove the top perch. I don't know what they used to put this thing on but it's tight. Since the shocks are going to be garbage I've tried just about everything to hold the Shaft to be able to undo the top nut. I've tried Vice Grips.. Sand paper and then vice grips.. Strap wrench.. a vice.. pipe chain vice.. But no matter what I try the shaft still spins when I try and loosen the nut. The only thing I haven't tried yet is actually grinding a flat part on it to get the vicegrips to hold. Is there a trick you guys use that I am missing? I'm sure someone out there can help, I've done this on other cars and it didn't seem to be as tough.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

Pneumatic high-speed impact wrench.

 

+1

Also, not compressing the springs can leave enough tension to maybe loosen it
without a compressor. Just make sure you loosen it and don't let it come off or the
spring will throw it in your face.

 

Since you're not reusing the strut cartridge you can also use a pipe wrench to hold the shaft

 

all good suggestions....

i'm sure i'm going to get flack over this, but I've never use a spring compressor on FB suspensions, there's really not that much tension on the spring especially 20+ year old stock springs. If you leave the springs extended and hit it with an impact gun they'll come right off. Keep a hand on the top hat and all should be fine. A little common sense goes a long way...

 

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've tried the pipe wrench as well and nothing seems to bite into the shaft. I'll try cracking it without the spring compressors on, hopefully that will maybe create some more resistance. I will try a high speed ratchet if I can get my hands on one.

Much Appreciated, this is really frustrating.

 

It will be difficult, if not impossible to grab the shaft with any tool. The surface is typically hardened to the point where a pipe wrench won't bite. The impact is really the only way to go. Take the struts out of the car, put the spring compressor on them, and take them to your nearest garage, along with a 6-pack of beer.

You and the mechanic will both be much happier afterwards.

 

A hack saw will cut though the shock.

 

I've used strips of rubber and vise grips. Seems like that and an impact works well. A friend was installing lowering springs on a coworkers car, and having no luck with the strut top nut, he had an air impact, but not enough air. Went and got my 110 volt impact, locked vice grips on the highest point accessible on the shaft and the nut came loose.

 

ur not going to reuse it, take a torch and cut the damn thing.

 

First time I did struts, I didn't have an impact wrench; I cut the nuts off with a dremel.

I don't recommend that method, though. Takes too long.

 

^Damn that must have taken forever!

I've never had any problems using a pipe wrench on the strut shaft, I'm surprised you guys are...

 

1/2" drive impact zips them right off.

 

I agree. I've done it 3 times with a pipe wrench.

 

Ok, I'm going to try the pipe wrench method again tomorrow, I have 3 different Rigids or different sizes, I'll give it another whirl, If that doesn't work I might pickup a decent ratchet, I thought about cutting the nut off, tried the hacksaw to the shaft but it wouldn't put a mark on it.. I'll play with it again.. I'm sure i'll get it some how.. if not my grinder will make a good mess of it.

Thanks a ton for everyones input!

 

I've gotten vice grips to bite in, but it destroys the shaft (but you don't care about that, now do you?) Just grow a pair, put the jaws in a position where it's going to take a hell of a lot of pressure to get them to lock, and you should be good to go.

 

Done and Done! Thanks for all the input guys. Bought a big set of ViceGrips and used a rubber strip to get the one nut off.. The other was harder.. Compressed the spring.. Cut the bottom rings off, slid the spring down the strut, ground 2 flat parts on either part of the shaft, vice grips. BOOM! .. now just need my coilovers to show up!. Thanks for all the input!