Any help here. I was installing my new M7 Strut Tower Brace today during lunch - no problem right? Wrong - one of the Nuts is going no where. It is just spinning. All the others came off easily. Any thoughts on how to get this off? I have tried a crescent wrench while pulling up, and prying a thin flat head b/t the washer and the nut while using a socket with no luck.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

thanks in advance

 

My guess is the stud that comes through the struts top plate has broken loose. Fixing it may involve removing the strut & that will involve cutting that spinning one off. Not a fun job.

 

Is it just the nut or is the stud spinning as well? Which ever it is will determine any corrective actions.

 

it is just the nut that is spinning - not the bolt. It won't loosen or tighten. The car is new to me, but not new. The nuts are Nylock with blue plastic at the top of the nuts. I am wondering if this one nut was over torqued and did something to the plastic. Since the bolt isn't spinning, I am hoping it isn't broken and I might just cut off the nut with a dremel or something (being very careful)

 

Yep. That's what I'd do. Cut the little bugger off. Nut splitters work great. Even a hack saw if you're patient. Slow and steady is the key.

...Les

 

Well if it's a nylon lock nut it's definetly not the stock nut for that bolt. So I'm guessing the previous owner cross threaded it putting it on and damaged the bolt, and of course you can't get it off and if you do you'll have to replace the stud. So go ahead and cut it off.
Now MINI doesn't offer those studs seperate from the upper mount, but I have a hand full of good used ones. Give me a call and I'll hook you up with one.

WAY
317.201.8670

 

If the nut spins & not the stud, take a big honking pair of vise grips & clamp it on the nut for all you're worth. Have the vise grips facing down with the handles pointing up. While turning clockwise pull up. You may well horse it off of there.

Good luck...

 

Wow, Way. I've seen you do stuff like this before. Kudos.

 

Thanks we try to help.

 

Way I appreciate the this - but we got it off. Looks like the previous owner over torqued the nut - a few of the threads on the nut popped off, but luckily it didn't damage the bolt. We ended up just using a nut splitter and popped it right off.

thanks everyone for the responses - and a big thanks to BlimeyCabrio - Paul hooked me up and got that nut off for me!!!

 

Glad it was an easy fix.

 

+1 Those are the best kind.

 

Yep. I busted that nut.

 

Yep. I busted that nut.

BlimeyCabrio you crack me up!