project gone bad ,need help?

Nx2k305 · 03-03-2007, 08:06 PM

i was putting springs on my 92 se-r today and i got the struts off easy then when i put the compressor on the springs and i tryed to get the top nut off and it wouldnt come off it was turning the shaft with it, i even used vice grips and it was still turning. i dont have air tools and i dont know what to do now im stuck i cant even drive my car now. any ideas people please help?????

scortch99th · 03-03-2007, 08:13 PM

i know i cant do it without an impact gun(air tool)
take them to a local shop or an autozone

fairgentleman z · 03-03-2007, 08:19 PM

Sometimes you can do the top nut first, and then remove the struts.

But....... with stock spring everything will become uncompressed and more difficult to remove the spring/strut assembly out of the wheel well.

So, try putting the strut back in. Just bolt up the hub and not the 3 tower bolts. Put the weight of the car on it and then loosen (but not remove) the nut.

pathfinder7 · 03-03-2007, 08:41 PM

I used a grinder on the shaft, put two parallel flats approx. 1/2 " put a wrench on that and a socket on the nut and unscrewed it. do this only if u are not trying to save the strut. I hope this is will help.
Ed

Nx2k305 · 03-03-2007, 08:48 PM

im goin to reuse the struts, so i cant mess them up but thanks for the idea. so if i can get an impact on it it wont spin the shaft nomore and it will come off?

pathfinder7 · 03-03-2007, 08:57 PM

From the threads I have read, They advise you not to spin that shaft, If you do they warned of possible damage to the inner seals. Be careful, I also read were they used Garden hose to hold the shaft with Vice grips but again I would not use Air impact.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Ed

STRATTON · 03-03-2007, 09:01 PM

put some pblaster or wd40 on it and let it sit for a bit, pull out the torch and light that baby up, keep the vice grips on it, get the nut almost cherry red and give it a shot, u should be able to get it off no problem.

stratton.

skcusloa · 03-03-2007, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairgentleman z

Sometimes you can do the top nut first, and then remove the struts.

But....... with stock spring everything will become uncompressed and more difficult to remove the spring/strut assembly out of the wheel well.

So, try putting the strut back in. Just bolt up the hub and not the 3 tower bolts. Put the weight of the car on it and then loosen (but not remove) the nut.

holy crap! don't do that! if you did that with the car supported by jack stands it could be dangerous

If you've already used pliers on the shafted and scuffed them, your struts are damged, as soon as that scratched up area hits the seal...

You just need to get a friend to hold it while you wrench on it. I think an impact would be better as long as the shaft was held, it has a snap effect that would take it right off.

Nx2k305 · 03-03-2007, 10:05 PM

do you think a deep offset box wrench would work?

pathfinder7 · 03-03-2007, 10:14 PM

Yes, That is what I used.
Ed

Nx2k305 · 03-03-2007, 10:27 PM

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...BVC ookie=Yes

Nx2k305 · 03-03-2007, 10:29 PM

click there to see if thats the right one. what size did you use? so you think that for the nut and a cresent wrench for the top part?

fairgentleman z · 03-03-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcusloa

holy crap! don't do that! if you did that with the car supported by jack stands it could be dangerous

Um, no, if he did that the car would be supported by the ground, suspended by the tires, mounted to the wheel hubs, attached to the suspension.

And if that is dangerous then parking lots must be absolutely terrifying for you.

TheRealNightHog · 03-03-2007, 10:48 PM

I went to sears and got the rubber covers for my vice grips. They will hold the shaft without damaging them.

strobe14 · 03-03-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairgentleman z

Sometimes you can do the top nut first, and then remove the struts.

But....... with stock spring everything will become uncompressed and more difficult to remove the spring/strut assembly out of the wheel well.

So, try putting the strut back in. Just bolt up the hub and not the 3 tower bolts. Put the weight of the car on it and then loosen (but not remove) the nut.

This is exactly what i would do and as stated, you dont have to screw the tower bolts back on, just so that they are in the holes. You should have loosened the nut first before you took off the springs. I learned it the same way you did. Put it back on and loosen the nut but do not take off.

Will · 03-03-2007, 11:18 PM

You guys are making this all way to damn complicated. Use some vice grips to hold the shaft. Use some rubber hose or something like mentioned above to protect the shaft from the vice grips. Easy as hell.

vladha · 03-03-2007, 11:20 PM

Do not use a torch to heat the top bolt to cherry red, especially when it's still on the strut. Your struts have a fluid in them(oil based), heat will be transferred through the shaft and will heat this fluid to boiling point. The fluid and gas inside the strut will try to expand... having no place to go... bad mojo.

Quick and easy way to ruin a set of struts. As mentioned above, but the top strut back in, tighten the 3 nuts, then you should be able to loosen the top nut. At least, that's how I removed mine.

Peas us Riced,
Mark

Nx2k305 · 03-04-2007, 06:45 PM

i finally got my springs on today it was a bitch lol, but anyways i used a 17mm deep angle box end wrench ($18) to get the top nut off, i had to adjust the top because in wouldnt juss slide in the 3 holes at the top and i had to take the spring back apart and move the top part around to get it to fit back in. i only got the two front ones on right now i didnt get a chance to do the back its to cold but i like how the front looks so far **** do the back when its a lil warmer.