Can't Get Nut Off Top Strut For Bilstein Install

This mother won't come off.
I applied wd40.

The problem is the top center piece can't be gripped, since the nut is almost off!

Any ideas?

 

Um, why are you taking that off? There's a solid chance that when you do and start lifting, that spring is going to come loose and take your head off.

 

I'm trying to figure what's happening here. Don't you have to unscrew the 3 other nuts and take the coilover out?

 

i have the spring under tension by applying a jack to the lower control arm

it's this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkVLBOnAifc

 

How would a spring shoot out because he takes the top nut off? It's still completely captive.

 

If you're trying to put a spacer at the top, go rent/buy some spring compression clips. Be safe and do it right. Better than being dead....or wishing you were dead.

 

Get in there with some needle nose vise grips. Shouldn't have to clamp hard being its almost off.

 

That spring is pretty tall and under a lot of pressure. By the time he gets to the top of that bolt there is still some spring left.

 

This^

You can grab the shaft of the strut to stop it from turning

 

Interesting technique... gl

 

Used the same technique with the jack like you are, worked perfectly. Just make sure you have the bottom bolt of the shock still in before taking the top nut off and lowering the jack.

Did this also to get the nut off. If you are replacing the entire shock then it doesn't really matter how messed up the shaft gets. GL!

 

thanks man.

i just can't get a grip on the shaft because all i have is needle nose pliers. you think it'd work better if i go to the store and get some robogrip pliers?

 

Ya you need a pair of those or some vice grips to get a good hold

 

just bought robogrips and vice grip pliers at home depot. still can't get it off. the top numb is too small to grip and the shaft above teh bushing is too small for both to fix into to grasp.

FML :-0D

 

HA! i let all the tension off the bottom of hte control arm via the jack and then tried again and it worked!!!!

thanks for all the help guys!

tacomaworldforthewin

 

If you are replacing them you can always just cut it off lol I had to do that once but probably not ideal

 

Would you be able to get a Sawzall blade between the rubber grommets to cut the shock shaft and then just pull the shock out, after you lower the lift, as a last resort?

 

I was going to try replacing the front shocks myself. Being a first timer doing suspension work, would you recommend using this decompression technique and how long did it take you to complete it the first time?

Thanks,
Mark

 

I used this trick and it was my first time doing suspension work also, so yes I would recommend it. You can also rent a strut compressor if you don't feel comfortable doing it this way. It took me a few hours on the first side, mainly because I had never done it before so I didn't want to screw it up and I have an 03 so there was plenty of rust to work through. Second side took an hour most to get do.

 

hahahaha