steering and suspension Help! I'e done jacked up one of my front struts.

[arminyack]

So like yeah....I tried to install my new IE Stage one springs tonight....but I was stopped cold on the first strut. I compressed the spring, removed the dust cover, and then attempted to loosen the nut on the strut. I wound up buggering the Allen slot on the shock instead. I cant be the first person who's done this here, so someone's got the easy fix, right?  RIGHT??!

 

[Mike Self]

You can always MIG weld a cut off piece of Allen wrench in the boogered up slot and then use an appropriately-sized socket  on it to hold the shaft while using a box wrench to undo the nut...

 

mike

[stone02]

yes just run it off with an air tool if you have one.

just like taking off lug-nuts from a wheel.

the only other choice is a pipe wrench at the 

very top under the spring cap, where the strut

rarely travels.

good luck,

let us know your out come,

stone02

Edited December 17, 2015 by stone02

[nbcbird]

You could immobilize the strut from below by using some vise grips with a piece of leather or rubber for grip (and to avoid marring the strut), or you could carefully cut a slot in the top of the strut for use with a large screwdriver, or try two jamb nuts on the top threads to at least get the nylock partially off. Airtool trick is probably the easiest.

Edited December 17, 2015 by nbcbird

[arminyack]

You can always MIG weld a cut off piece of Allen wrench in the boogered up slot and then use an appropriately-sized socket  on it to hold the shaft while using a box wrench to undo the nut...

 

mike

 

I think we have a winner! I'll give this a whirl!

Edited December 17, 2015 by arminyack

[Hans]

I'd be inclined to find an electric or air impact wrench.

[M3M3]

+3 for air tools

[arminyack]

I had a crack at it again with the impact gun. This time, it worked right away!