How do you release the front dampers?

[RoulerCo]

After wrestling the rusted top screw nut off the outer housing of the front dampers I encountered the second problem…. How the hell do you get these metal rings out that keep the damper wedged into the housing? I tried cutting them with a Dremel but backed-out incase there is a better or easier thing to do to get them out.

 

Any tips are massively appreciated 😆

 

Thanks

Dan

[johnny02]

I think that "ring" is part of the damper.  I'd wager the whole thing is corroded in place.  I removed my originals many years ago, but I dont remember a ring.  

Edited May 31, 2023 by johnny02

[RoulerCo]

1 minute ago, johnny02 said:

I think that "ring" is part of the damper.  I'd wager the whole thing is corroded in place.  

It’s not part of the damper strut, it’s definitely a separate piece. I’ve managed to get the left side one out when I pulled the damper up. It came out without any issue. 

[johnny02]

Just now, RoulerCo said:

It’s not part of the damper strut, it’s definitely a separate piece. I’ve managed to get the left side one out when I pulled the damper up. It came out without any issue. 

Ok, then, I stand corrected.  

[tech71]

Yeah, some dampers require that spacer, not sure which ones but they are included with new KYB dampers although you dont need them on a standard 02

Is your car a Tii?

Its rusted in, buy a can of PB Blaster and apply liberally then wait a while, the longer the better.

If you have to, try cutting a slot in the face you can get a punch on  and try to rotate it a bit by tapping. May break it loose, be careful! you're damaging the housing there.

Hope your damper is not rusted in as well, pretty common and your strut housing looks pretty rusty

Edited May 31, 2023 by tech71

[Son of Marty]

Penatrating oil the rent a slide hammer from your parts store.

[popovm]

13 minutes ago, Son of Marty said:

Penatrating oil the rent a slide hammer from your parts store.

 

I didn't know parts stores rent slide hammers. Good tip. I will call ahead though. When I went into my neighborhood O'reilly's to buy one when I was replacing my bumpers a couple weeks ago, the guy at the counter didn't know what a slide hammer was. Showed him a pic and he said to get it from Amazon.  🫠 

 

@RoulerCo, report back on how you get that out. I had the same issue. The whole ordeal of working on my passenger side suspension was taking multiple days so I gave up and bought some nice freshly powdercoated strut housings from a local forum member. 

Edited May 31, 2023 by popovm

[Son of Marty]

Harbor Fright has the cheapest one I could find at 30 bucks, it's not a real sophisticated bit of gear.

[TobyB]

Pull harder. 

 

On the strut insert.

 

t

 

[bob02]

Put the strut shaft in a vise and gently tap the housing down with a mallet. Just did it with a seized Koni.

 

 Bob