Gland Nut Removal

Question:
Is a pair of vise grips with a rag wrapped around the strut rod the best option to keep the strut rod from spinning when removing the middle gland nut?

I do not have access to an air compressor/impact wrench.

Situation:
I removed the old strut and coil using the floor jack method (worked great!). The old coils were placed on new Bilstein 5100's and put back in the truck. Driver side went perfect. However, After starting to tighten the middle gland nut down (halfway) on the passenger side I realized that I did not place the metal washer from the old strut onto the new Bilstein 5100 before putting it back it.

I attempted to take the middle gland nut back off in order to put the washer in place, but, the strut rod won't stop spinning.

I held the rod at the top with an adjustable wrench and turned the nut with a open faces wrench.

This worked until the nut got to the top of the strut rod and made it impossible to hold the strut rod with the adjustable wrench.

I'm guessing the nut can only have a couple threads left but it is still spinning the rod - and I'm unable to get a bite on the top of the rod.

Would vise grips with a rag further down on the rod be my best option if I do not have an air compressor and impact wrench available?

Thanks in advance

 

I believe you can put an Allen key/hex wrench into the top of the shock mount shaft, and hold it in place that way.

Memories are fuzzy.

 

@2015whitetaco
You on 5100 rears also?

 

I had the same issue but on my driver side and I just used some needle nose vise grips and a rag and it was a pain it the ass but it got the job done

 

The rear 5100s had a slot for an Allen wrench on the top of the rod but the fronts did not.

I'll give the vise grips and rag a try tomorrow evening.

 

Damn dude. I'm sorry.

I didn't realize you were asking about the fronts.

I did the same with the fronts, except a big ass pair of Channel Locks.

 

Yeah the other part is if you are assembling them on the truck the space gets tight so if you can assemble them off the truck because my giant sausage fingers had a hard time getting in that tight space

 

Should be OK as long as the rag is thick and you adjust the vise grips really tight. The shaft is hard chrome plated.

An impact wrench is best for this application if you were doing this on a bench spring compressor, since the shaft won't spin with impact torque.

Third alternative (very time-consuming) is to grind a slot on the side of the nut and use a nut-splitter tool:

$18 Cal-Hawk Tools Nut Splitter Tools - 2-Pc. Set

http://www.amazon.com/Nut-Splitter-Tools-2-Pc-Set/dp/B0000AX88Q

 

Needle nose Vise grip pliers and rag worked like a charm...

 

Good I lost sleep worrying about this one