Top strut nut

[shaund123]

I've been changing the front springs on my car, to take the top nut off you need to use a torx bit to hold the damper rod to remove the nut I believe? But on the drivers side strut the top of the damper rod has rounded off and I can't fit anything in to hold it, I there any other way of removing the bolt or or is it completed done for??

[saxova]

This happened to me, luckily just the old standard dampers i planned on throwing away anyway.. so I just used some mole grips on the actual damper and held it that way.

Obviously this will score the damper so not a good idea if you intend to keep the old dampers.

Can you not tap a bigger torx in?

[shaund123]

I was thinking of tapping a thread in and holding it with a bolt just to crack the nut off if you know what I mean?

[Aaron]

get a airgun on it. will come straight off.

take strut to a local garage which have one and pay them a £5 to undo it.

[MartinObviously]

I used mole grips and a microfibre cloth :y:

Airgun is probably the best option.

[shaund123]

I used mole grips and a microfibre cloth :y:

Airgun is probably the best option.

Cheers for the reply lads!

I'll give the mole grips and cloth a shot but if no joy I'll nip it down to the garage! Thanks for the advice much appreciated

[shaund123]

Well mole grips never worked! Looks like the struts off down the garage to use there windy gun

[MartinObviously]

Well mole grips never worked! Looks like the struts off down the garage to use there windy gun

You just weren't man enough :homme:

[rick_VTR]

I always use my battery impact driver to do them top nuts.

but obviously if you don't have one then garage it is :y:

[shaund123]

You just weren't man enough :homme:

Hahahaha! It just kept spinning!

[shaund123]

If I had a good hold on the rod then I'd be able to crack the nut off! It's the only thing that's stopping me finish this job

[Brettles1986]

If I had a good hold on the rod

oooh errr ;)

[shaund123]

oooh errr ;)

saucy saucyyyy

[shaund123]

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn68/shaund123/002.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/shaund123/media/002.jpg.html)


WTF do i do now???

[Prickle]

Just put a angle grinder through the piston. Then the top will come off. Makes it easier to undo the nut..

Make sure the springs are compressed though

[shaund123]

Just put a angle grinder through the piston.

Make sure the springs are compressed though


The springs snapped anyways mate so all the compression has gone, whats the point of cutting it in half? means i'll have to get a new strut anyways.

[Prickle]

No you dont. Theres a cap lower down that screws the damper in the strut..

Or cut the snapped spring out. Then undo the cap that secures the damper in the strut.

[Bedford126]

Do what prickle said cut the damper in half and replace the damper, That one is fucked now anyways.

You could try heat and a impact gun but heat will bugger the rubber top mount up.

[shaund123]

cheers for the help lads, is the cap the gold/silver thing that the gator covers?

[Prickle]

Yes under that black cover.

It has 2 or 3 little nicks it so you can hit it round and it will screw off.

Whatever you do, do not try and smash it upwards off! :D bye threads if you do that.

[shaund123]

Yes under that black cover.

It has 2 or 3 little nicks it so you can hit it round and it will screw off.

Whatever you do, do not try and smash it upwards off! :D bye threads if you do that.

:y: Cheers mate, ive seen it! i'll give that a go. its had my head done in all day! looks like im ordering a new damper!

[Prickle]

No worries dude.