I am hoping someone can enlighten me on a way to remove the top strut nut. I have seen the older threads and have been using the allen wrench way but I am not even budging it. The allen is twisting on me. Any ideas????

Is it a normal treading or is it reverse threading?


Thanks
Peter

 

Peter,
This was a little tricky. To do this I took a spark plug socket (with the squared edges near where a ratchet would be placed) and slid it over the top nut. Take a cresent wrench or box wrench and slide it over the squared portion of the spark plug socket to hold the socket. Next slide the allen down through the hole in the socket to hold the shock shaft while you twist the socket. I found that it really helped to have someone else holding one part while you do the other.

Hope this helps!

Mark

 

Mark thanks for the info, I've been trying that and I am twisting/bending the allen wrench and not getting it to budge. Although tricky is it really that tight?
I only have 3000 miles on the car.

Peter

 

Mine were tight but not that tight. One thing I remember that we did to improve the leverage was to slip a box end wrench around near where the allen wrench has a bend in it and use the wrench to hold the allen wrench.

Are you putting Koni's on your MINI?

Mark

 

Thanks Mark, I finally got it off. Funny after a short rest and coming on to this site I went back at it, said what the heck if I do break the allen wrench....then with minimal force it came loose. I can't explain it but it was tough as anything in the beginning. One thing I did differently on the other side was to break loose the nut while it is still on the car, that is probably the best way I think.

On the same topic, I am wondering how I would torque that nut on the install process without turning the whole spring assembly. I can only get it so tight, not really to torque spec.

And yes I am installing Koni yellows with H-sport springs.

Peter

 

You can grip the strut piston with channel locks if need be. Just be sure to grab it up as high as possible so that it's never going to be a part of the piston that would go inside the strut cartridge.

R