Help. Trying to replace front struts and cannot get the driver's side strut to release from the "collar." Removed pinch bolt and the upper sway link bolt but it will not budge. Used a wedge to try and open up the gap in the back across the pinch bolt connection and that didn't work. Penetrating oil is working through there but nothing yet. I hammered on a block of wood against the back of the control arm and nothing. Finally was able to get the strut to spin within the collar but it is absolutely NOT coming out. The passengers came right out when i removed the pinch bolt. Wheel assembly drooped down and the strut came right out. Watched ModMINI videos and read Pelican Tech articles but this thing will not MOVE> HELP?!? Suggestions?

 

Hopefully you got his figured out since it was last night but I had this same issue replacing mine. Passenger side was easy but I spent 2 hours doing everything I could think of to get it off to no avail.

I was replacing springs as well so I ended up using an angle grinder with a cutting wheel to just cut the spring and put a jack under the rotor with a block of wood to compress the piston. Mine stayed up since they were shot so I had enough room to wiggle it out. This is an extreme solution to I'm sure an easily fixed problem from someone more experienced with these cars but I figured I would throw it out there since no one was chiming in.

 

Thanks Ole Blue . I appreciate you taking a moment to respond. I did get it figured out and it required some strategic and some not so strategic hammering on a block onto the area surrounding the strut's shaft but we got it done. Thanks again.

 

Glad to hear. I probably should have spent the extra time to do the same, but as I was replacing the springs anyways it seemed like the best way to get the job done before I lost all of my light. Good job.