How to undo top of front strut inserts??

gav p · Post by **gav p** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 1:27 pm

Guys,

Whats the proceedure for undoing the top mounting of the front strut insert? I can find no way of gripping the large washer to prevent it from rotating and straining the rubber when attempting to undo the 22mm mounting nut.

I'm guessing that there must be a special tool whick grips the washer (which has a notch in it). In the 991&PW article about KS's Carrera front struts, they mention gripping the washer with a large wrench whilst undoing the nut... this didnt work in my case as the rubber gets in the way, and in any case seems like a good way of messing up the washer.

Any top tips??

Cheers all...

Nick Moss · Post by **Nick Moss** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:31 pm

doesn't the threaded part of the insert have flats on it or a hexagonal depression?

gav p · Post by **gav p** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:53 pm

The threaded part has a small hole in the top, which an M6 bolt can be screwed into. I tried using a bolt in here to hold the shaft whilst undoing the main nut. However, the main nut is so tight that it felt like I would end up shearing the M6 bolt off in the top of the strut before the main nut moved....

I'm 99% sure there are no flats on the threaded part, but will check again...

domo1977 · Post by **domo1977** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 5:04 pm

If it's an old damper that you're not going to use again you could always carefully file some spanner flats onto the threaded portion, I've done that before with good results.

Nick Moss · Post by **Nick Moss** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 5:05 pm

Or grip it below the arch with a vicegrip

69Olive · Post by **69Olive** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 5:10 pm

I had this problem recently. I took the car to a local garage and they just gripped the large flat washer with a large pair of channel locks (waterpump pliers) and undid the nut. He then proceeded to give that "now why couldn't you do that" look.

I have since invested in a some large waterpump pliers.

gav p · Post by **gav p** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:41 pm

Just in case anyone has this problem, I managed to undo the struts in the end pretty easily. All it took was a sharp tap to big top washer (between nut and strut rubber) with a hammer and drift, which was enough to unseaze the 22mm nut without then needing to hold to washer with grips, wrench etc.

Cheers all...

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 7:21 pm

Call me an animal, but I've always found that the best approach with top mount nuts involves impact: either air/battery impact guns, or wacking a spanner with a copper/hide hammer. The small hex/flats never seem to allow nearly enough leverage for freeing elderly threads, and you only seem to muller them. By the way, it always seems to be easier to crack shock nuts with the car on the ground - not jacked up.

Pablo · Post by **Pablo** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 9:09 pm

Waterpump grips did it for me with minor cosmetic damage to the big washer.