how could I go about getting off the strut plate from the top of the strut/spring assembly after I've compressed the springs? The middle has an allen key hole, and the bolt is a 20 or 21 mm bolt. When an attempt is made to only turn the bolt, the shock turns as well, hence the need to hold the allen head in position while I take off the bolt..Only problem is..how?

the allen hole can be seen here:

and the bolt and strut tower plate go on that thread.

 

I haven't done this job, so I cannot comment on the procedure, but I do know of one VERY cheap impact wrench. I used to carry one of these in my Land Rover for removing lug nuts or other large nuts that I could not get off otherwise while on the trail. Runs off your cig. lighter and works quite well for $19. It ain't fancy but it works for the occasional difficult to remove nut.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92349

 

OK, I changed out my front top plates for camber plates and here's my experience. I bought an impact wrench but my small compressor just took a dump trying to drive it. As a friend said, if the air tool goes "thump thump" it's probably OK with a small compressor, but if it goes "whir, whir" then you need one hellova big tank... So then I tried the allen wrench and wrench idea, but broke (yes, broke) that 10mm allen wrench right off at the bend...
So I ended up taking the whole thing down to my local Firestone and my frind Perry used his large capacity impact wrench to remove and replace that nut.
Anyway, that's how it went for me. YMMV...

cheers,

 

You need and open ended wrench set. IMO, hard to find. I got mine at cummins tools.

 

I dont have an air compressor. I'd rather not go the route of that emergency impact wrench if I'm not positive it's going to work. I have access to open ended wrenches, but the area is recessed, so I can't get to it with a regular open ended wrench. thanks for the quick replies, keep the ideas comin'

 

Nice to see some more SC folks on the boards...

Hmmm... I am trying to remember when Chad from Detroit Tuned installed my springs how it went. I know I was helping him at the time and it was a really easy job once the struts were out. We never even compressed the springs to pull them out.

If I remember correctly I helped hold the bottom section with a screw driver so the strut wouldn't spin but then again I could be halucinating as I just spent the past 1.5 hours under my car putting in a new exhaust.

Good luck my friend and might I suggest a PM to Chad or one of the boys in the Detroit hood?

chris

 

thanks man, that may be in order, I'm sure one more call from me won't kill him... hopefully...haha He's helped me greatly in the past, I'm not sure why I didn't think of calling him earlier. Oh well, we're taking another stab at it tomorrow afternoon, just need the details worked out by then.

We had half the suspension off the car...then put it all back together, heart sank when we messed up the swaybar droplink, found its place again once we fixed it...and...well...hopefully it will go smoother tomorrow, given we figure this out.

 

I got stuck at the track last year with the same problem. Never again.

Save some money or ask for an early Christmas gift, and get one of these. Best tool I've ever owned:


http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/to...productID=6347

 

If you can wait ... I can take some pictures on Monday of the socket that I sloted both side to fit a adjustable wrench in, thenjust used the allen wrench from the top and unscrew the bolt ..... I did it by my self with out springs compressor and with just hand tools in 5hrs.

 

Will a deep offset open wrench fit in that recess?

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...TOOL&ihtoken=1

 

MAYBE I'm misunderstanding the question....

But i used a spark plug socket that i picked up at home depot (or lowes....forget). It has a hole at one end to put the allen in and you can just use a wrench to loosen the nut.

 

J - I know what you mean by slotting the socket, what did you use to do that with?

A deep offset wrench may work, but if I don't have to I really don't have the money to spend right now.
Rally - i tried that, couldn't find a spark plug socket big enough for the bolt

 

I used a set of "O-Ratchet" pass-through sockets to do my struts last time (on a Subaru, but that picture looks pretty much the same). The center of the ratchet is hollow so you can fit an allen throught the head (also works for nuts on a threaded rod, etc).

Not the greatest quality maybe, but I can't find the exact set that I have:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=93150

When you need these, you REALLY need them. They go where deep-wells can't.

Josh

edit: I just noticed that set only goes to 19mm. But that's the general idea, anyway.

 

i just cracked loose the nut on the shaft before removing from the car.

i used a regular socket over the nut, dropped a hex key in the center to
hold the shaft, and turned the socket with a channel-lock. worked
quite well.

i don't have air tools.

 

thanks for all the helpful replies. Kenchan, that's what I was probably going to end up doing, do you remember what size socket it was? was it 20? or 21?

 

Might as well add this to it:

http://www.torquestick.com/cart/cust...4&cat=1&page=1

 

i forgot wat size that was off hand...been almost 3 years since i did the
install. can you pop the cap off the top and see?

 

I think it is 22mm. Put the socket on it without a socket wrench attached. Grab the socket with vice grips or chanell locks and put an allen in the hole to hold it still. Air wrench is easier of course. You couls run them to a nearby garge and give the guy 10$ to break it loose.
Wes

 

Okay, well here's how it went. The vise grips and allen key idea never panned out. We stopped that before breaking the allen wrench. So I went to meet someone that had an air compressor and impact wrench, and we got the job done. Took way too long to do, but we got it done. Those two bottom bolts that holds the rear struts in place will go down in my record books as the bolt I will hate always and forever. But it's done and my car looks fantastic.

 

Did the torgue settings help you out?

BTW I used a spark plug socket to get mine off.

 

they did, thanks everything's on and tightened down...just need to figure out what this odd noise is