Strut nut stuck - how to get it moving?

S

ScottVRX

New Member
Newb mechanic here. I'm getting more adventurous with my fixes. Did front engine mount recently. Now attempting front shocks.

Have got the shock off the car just fine, but the nut at the top of the strut won't come off. The whole strut just spins. I've tried vise grips alone on the strut, also with duct tape and some anti-slip mat, the thing still just turns. The hole at the top of the mount it too small to get a 17mm ring spanner into, else I would have tried getting that to hold the nut, then turn the strut using the flattened bit at the top (not that I can get a good grip on that anyway).

I'm going to have to put the old strut back on the car, just so I can drive it.

How the heck to I get this nut off?!!!

Cheers
 
PS; I only have a basic set of tools - i.e. regular spanners, ring spanners, ratchet socket set, torque wrench. I've read about people using impact drills. I don't have one of those, but I do have a corded hammer drill (but no 1/2" socket adapter). That's not the same thing, is it?
 
Vice grips on the shock tube itself, and twist. You might need a cloth or like a mousepad or something on the shocker tube to grip it, but it'll come undone eventually.

Hammer drills are more for like concrete, where it needs a really strong and constant impact, whereas an impact is a very quick on-off-on impact.
Also try the local hardware/auto shops for a spray can chemical called Freeze and Release. It works 10x better than wd40, but is priced accordingly. its saved many a stuck nut for me before.
 
Well ... I've done something to my car, but I'm not sure what...

I just went to SCA to pick up an impact driver. As I was driving a horrible knocking made itself known. When I brake the knocking goes. I've also noticed the car pulling a bit to the left now. The strut I had removed (and put back) is on the left.

I completely forgot to look for and buy the Freeze and Released, since the new noise distracted me.

Have I just knocked something out of alignment, or maybe broken something ... ? :(
 
ScottVRX said:
Well ... I've done something to my car, but I'm not sure what...

I just went to SCA to pick up an impact driver. As I was driving a horrible knocking made itself known. When I brake the knocking goes. I've also noticed the car pulling a bit to the left now. The strut I had removed (and put back) is on the left.

I completely forgot to look for and buy the Freeze and Released, since the new noise distracted me.

Have I just knocked something out of alignment, or maybe broken something ... ? :(
Click to expand...
Did you take the brakes apart at all? On an old CH I found that insufficient grease on the pads would make them knock.

Also to reply to your first question - most importantly, do you have spring compressors?

assuming yes, then you will need an offset ring spanner and whatever size allen key/socket to hold the centre.

failing that setup, you’d need to buy a decent quality impact (rattle gun), impact sockets and then air compressor to drive it all. Cheap SCA/repco branded guns won’t do.
 
Well ... I'm semi-proud of myself...

When I jacked the car back up and went to take the wheel off again I quickly discovered why the wheel was knocking - I had neglected to tighten the wheel nuts the last time I put the wheel back on... ooops... glad I made the choice to avoid the highway and take the slower route home!

Anyway, the impact driver did the job nicely. It did a fantastic job of persuading the strut nut to come off. Now have two new suspension struts on my car. That's the bit I'm proud of myself for :)

Not so proud of myself - firstly the doofus mistake above. And because of not tightening them properly, I've now over-tightened the wheel nuts putting them back on. The nuts are now slightly rounded and I now cannot shift them either by hand or with the impact driver. Double doofus. At least I don't need to worry about the wheel shaking off now

Cheers
 
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