Strut removal problem...help!

[callys]

I am replacing all the springs/struts on my fox body. Did the rears real quick, moved on to the front.

Here is where I am stuck. I just can not get the nut off the top of the strut. I tried putting a huge flathead in from the side into the notch and holding it while I turned it...no luck. Tried using heavy duty air gun, no luck. The rod just spins inside the strut.

Any ideas? I guess worse case scenario I have to buy a new strut guide?

Thanks.

 

[squeak93]

An air impact should do it. Is the strut still attached at the bottom?

 

[ScratchinFerTra]

Try vise grips on the strut shaft in the wheel well, then take the nut off with the impact.

 

[tomustang]

Try vise grips on the strut shaft in the wheel well, then take the nut off with the impact.

douse but with WD or PB blaster too

 

[callys]

Impact, grips, none of it worked, just sawzalled the studs right below the nut.

 

[squeak93]

Impact, grips, none of it worked, just sawzalled the studs right below the nut.

That works as well. But obcviously only if ur replacing them. Sorry we couldn't help.

 

[ShortThrow50]

cordless impact wrench at PEP BOYS 80 BUCKS! Best 80 bucks i ever spend. 200 pound torque too.

 

[Shakerhood]

With the Car still on the Ground, I buzzed the Top Nut loose with the Impact Gun and then jacked the Car up.

 

[Roland69]

IR 2135Ti.....1000 ft lbs reverse torque..nuff said. never found a nut or bolt it wouldn't budge.....and I work in a garage 9+ hours a day

 

[HISSIN50]

I use one of those long prybars that's like a flathead screwdriver with a bent tip. I put it in the strut's notch, but hold the prybar so it's parallel with the ground (this gives you leverage). Then loosen the nut.

 

[callys]

I have a Snap-On impact gun. Its air, not electric obviously. Its an older gun but its supposed to put out somewhere in the range of 700lbs of torque. These were the original nearly 18-year-old struts on my car. I was pretty amazed that the gun wouldnt take off the nut when the car was on the ground, but the shaft immediately started spinning like a whirring noise, maybe it had something to do with them being blown.

 

[redfox91]

I just did this and I would recommend buying a new strut mount... Or you could take it down and lay it on the garage floor with some help use a breakover bar. Thats the way I did it. I wish I would have had new strut mounts it would have been alot easier.

 

[SuperStang83]

Cut them if you don't need them. If you have the money get a good impact gun, you know you will be able to use it for many jobs.