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removing strut tops?

predator
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predator Grand Master

predator

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I'm having trouble removing the strut tops off the front struts for R32 stock suspension.

I have used spring compressors to compress the springs and get them all out of the car. That wasn't too difficult.

There is a nut on the top.. but untightening that doesn't appear to do anything, it just keeps going around and around and around. I don't think it's stripped or anything, as it's the same on the other side.

So anybody? how do I get the suckers off??

I need to get it off to replace them..

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V8skylineMAN Grand Master

V8skylineMAN

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rattle gun will do it...or failing that wrap some rubber around the piston of the strut, and put some vice grips on there (gently so as not to damage the piston) then undo the nut

OR the top of the strut is flattened......hold that with a 10mm spanner while undoing the nut with a spanner....

predator Grand Master

predator

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all done thanks to the above!

as stated, the thread actually has a flat bit at the top. I just used an adjustable to grip that in place, and a 14mm spanner at the bottom to turn the nut. All comes apart easily.

predator Grand Master

predator

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Well ecl.. It may not be mandatory, but it does make it a hell of a lot easier. Because otherwise you have to jack the car up as far as possible, so that the spring is fully extended.

And also the bottom mount point is very tensioned (unless you reduce the spring) meaning you can take off the nut, but it's going to be very hard to slide the strut off... p.s. you will probably need a breaker bar on the bottom nut as it's pretty solid (19mm).

Also, if you don't take out as much tension as possible in the spring, and you do manage to pop it out, it's likely to shoot somewhere bad, and destroy something.

Anyhow, it might be possible without, if the car is jacked very high.. but for $50 for spring compressors, worth getting :)

Side note: How is the 32 going Pred?

Ok.. compliance work is done (I hope).. engineered hopefully end of this week / start of next.. on road, middle of next week :rofl:;)

Sydneykid Grand Master

Sydneykid

Posted
Posted
Well ecl.. It may not be mandatory, but it does make it a hell of a lot easier. Because otherwise you have to jack the car up as far as possible, so that the spring is fully extended.  

And also the bottom mount point is very tensioned (unless you reduce the spring) meaning you can take off the nut, but it's going to be very hard to slide the strut off... p.s. you will probably need a breaker bar on the bottom nut as it's pretty solid (19mm).  

Also, if you don't take out as much tension as possible in the spring, and you do manage to pop it out, it's likely to shoot somewhere bad, and destroy something.  

Anyhow, it might be possible without, if the car is jacked very high.. but for $50 for spring compressors, worth getting ;)

Ok.. compliance work is done (I hope).. engineered hopefully end of this week / start of next.. on road, middle of next week :rofl: :rofl:

Hi guys, I have removed hundreds of springs from all sorts of cars and never used spring compressors to get the shock and spring unit out of the car. I use spring compressors to take the tension off the top spring mount before I undo the shock top nut. But that is on the bench out of the car as per the following picture of a Stagea front strut.1903FRont_Springs_with_Compressor_Small-med.jpg

If you have tension on the spring in the car it is because the stabiliser bar is still connected or you haven't jacked the car up far enough. But you have to jack the car up "far enough" to get the wheel off anyway. You only have to disconnect the stabiliser bar link (only one) if you jack up one wheel only. If you jack up both wheels (on the same axle) then you can leave the stabiliser bar connected.

Hope that helps:cheers:

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