Grim.Badger 15 Posted January 22, 2007 Question 1: The allen key hole in the top of one of my struts has mangled so I can't stop the shock piston turning while I try and undo the 21mm nut. How the hell can I get this off, it will be a right pain trying to split the 21mm nut with a chisel without the spring retainers jumping off every 5 seconds and I can't see how you'd get a splitter onto the nut. btw I don't have an angle grinder but I do have a dremel type tool, is it worth trying this or will it take forever? Question 2: I currently have jamex lowering springs that I got as part of complete struts from another car, are shocks matched to springs or can I put my standard springs on with these shocks? I can't remember what brand shocks they are but I didn't recognise them. The car is currently too low at the front for my liking and the jamex seem to have made the car skittish and bouncy (I'm almost certain it's not lower arm bushes as it went like this as soon as I fitted the struts and I've checked the balljoints and bushes). Cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doof 11 Posted January 22, 2007 Could take it to a garage and get some air tools on the top nut? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grim.Badger 15 Posted January 22, 2007 Could take it to a garage and get some air tools on the top nut? Absolutely zero money so it has to be DIY Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Craigb 2 Posted January 22, 2007 Need to clamp the piston rod then , find an area that is not entering the body , or seal damage can occur, and clamp it with a set of mole grips . Otherwise it is a trip to a garage or tyre fitter with an air tool . Would have thought they wouldn't charge for that though Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vern 0 Posted January 22, 2007 I always slacken the top nut off with the strut still on the car and still on its wheels. And have never had any trouble undoing them, as said before if off the car try gripping the shaft with a couple of pairs of molegrips, (1 does not grip enough). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rippthrough 98 Posted January 22, 2007 Grip the rod with an old fan belt wrapeed around a couple of times then hold both ends of the fan belt with the mole grips and twist it around to tighten it right up, then give it a go, that way you don't damage the rod and form somewhere for cracks to propagate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grim.Badger 15 Posted January 22, 2007 I should have said, the shock is dead so I'm not worried about damaging it. I don't have any mole grips at the moment but I might be able to bodge something else up Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rippthrough 98 Posted January 22, 2007 You can do the fan belt method with a pair of big plairs if you need to, just makes it a pain in the arse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
