How to tighten strut nut

I highly doubt this is supposed to look like this but I tried tightening the strut nut but keeps spinning I tried vice grips, crescent but no help it’s pretty seized. Is there another way I could tighten it? I really hope I don’t have to drop the shock. Thank you

 

Welcome to TW…it’s loose for sure..who put the struts on it?

 

What brand of shock is it?

The nut might be bottomed out, as tight as it can go. Sometimes the problem is incorrect assembly of the coilover, missing a washer or spacer.

 

Let the weight out a bit until it contacts and drags on the washer.

 

Grip the shock with a vice grip and tight the bolt. Get the Milwaukee vise grip from HD for $15.

 

It’s the oem TRD Pro shocks

 

You bought them used?

 

That looks like a stover locknut? Those have very high rundown torque. If you can still loosen and remove the nut, replace it with a plain nut and lock washer from the hardware store.

Swedish pipe wrench can grip a stripped shaft better than other wrenches. Example:

$18 MAXPOWER 12" Swedish Pipe Wrench, S-shape Jaw

https://www.amazon.com/MAXPOWER-inch-Swedish-Wrench-S-shape/dp/B0B2RQ63BV/

Were you doing the in-vehicle spring compressor method? When done outside on a bench compressor, you would have been able to run the nut down with an impact, avoiding this problem. Anyway, water under the bridge now.

 

Threads look buggered but it should tighten down.

Traditionally you are supposed to put a small box wrench on the top of the post while tightening down the nut. But that looks buggered also. Vise grip the top, tighten nut.

 

If the threads are crossthreaded I wouldn't trust the shock to be safe. Those threads and that nut are what keeps the coilover from coming apart. I assume they are.

As stated try a different nut. Also inspect the threads when you get that nut off.

 

Yikes

 

Thank you all for the help. Vice grips weren’t grabbing and little room to work with so I end up having to drop the shock and tighten while off the truck.