i have been working on my car for about 3 hours now trying to figure out this strut

the top bolt will not come out



the problem is the bolt will not stop spinning

i even tried to loosen it while the strut is mounted up to the car. people said that would hold it but still

no luck. the next way i tried is with the strap wrench.

the nut is so tight i cannot hold the socket still with the strap wrench

i don't have access to air tools so an impact wrench is out of the question although i'm pretty sure that

would just spin the nut as well. does anyone have any suggestions or am i just screwed?

i have been researching and have used the search many times

 

do you have the spring compressed?

 

yes i do

could i have to compress it more?

would that be an issue?

 

You should be using a T45 bit instead of an allen wrench. If you can't get it off with the system you're using they sell a strut tool kit to remove the nut.

 

use a air wrench

 

the allen wrench works fine it's the stupid socket. i can't hold it still with the strap wrench

it's so dang tight or something

what is this strut tool kit?

i will go get one if the sell them at advance auto parts or autozone or napa

about the only places still open

 

compress the springs more man

 

i used a pair of vice grips and clamped down extra tight on the strut shaft but i made sure i was clamped it towards the top by the top plate as much as possible. no problems so far and probably drove about 7,000 miles since installation.

 

opps my bad didnt read down far enough

 

go buy an electric impact gun, use it for 30 minutes, then take it back.

 

how would i hold the bolt still to turn the nut?

 

btw, with an impact you shouldnt need the allen wrench.

 

i'll go compress the hell out of the spring

see if that helps

thanks for the help so far that was quick

 

I had a problem with this also, i had to use a impact to get mine off.

 

exactly what ^^^ he said impact is the only way to go when taking apart the strut!!

 

trust me...go get an ELECTRIC impact gun...will save you soo much trouble...then take it back when you're done.

 

yah if you use an impact gun it will just come off easy as pie.

have you tried possibly putting the strut back on the car uncompress it and then crack the nut a little while the car is sitting on it. That what i had to do with my old cavy, when i was lowering it because i didnt have a air gun...

 

using a impact wrench adjust it as far up as it will go well depending on the air supply and just sap it it will come right apart done it twice

 

ughhh i remeber doing that. i actually got it off using hand tools... it was a bitch tho.... i actually think i posted a thread abt it a long time ago.

 

like previously mentioned, i used a pair of vice grips and clamped down on the strut shaft towards the very top, and used an impact gun, it works for the on and off steps.

 

lol my old spring thread. https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/suspension-67/help-front-springs-78179/

i went thru the same thing. sux... i feel ur pain

 

yea i compressed the spring until it just flops around on the strut

i'll go to a friend's house and see if i can get it off with his impact wrench

i'll let you know in a little while what happens

 

Impact will spin tht sucker right off, use a impact to put it back on to. its much easier.

 

Impact will get it off fine. I've done 4-5 spring installs, never had a problem.

 

where the heck were u when i did mine? lol

hows tht Xbox, good?