Top suspension bolt

[Dern]

Hi,

Trying to change the springs on my car and I've got one of the top bolts off just using a 21mm and a Allen key but one side is just not moving! Tried using shock and unlock and wd40 but don't want to try too much now as it looks to be rounding off the bolt,

Any ideas how to get it off? Also tried with a breaker bar but just turned the shock, is it best to take it to somewhere with an air gun?

Any ideas welcome

Cheers
Tom

[JackJack]

Any ideas how to get it off? Also tried with a breaker bar but just turned the shock, is it best to take it to somewhere with an air gun?

Yes

[Dern]

Oright yeah, can't get the bottom bolts back on now though because the springs not compressed and can't get it compressed with the compressers, so not on the road, top bolt looks to have rounded off quite badly.

So quite stuck really, miracle ideas anyone?

[biojo]

You should have undone the top bolt whilst car was on the ground! allen key and swan spanner should work with some force , after that buzz gun

The spring will still be compressed, but you will need a bar on lower arm to force it down to get bolts back in, also both front wheels should be off the ground

[JackJack]

You should have undone the top bolt whilst car was on the ground! allen key and swan spanner should work with some force , after that buzz gun

The spring will still be compressed, but you will need a bar on lower arm to force it down to get bolts back in, also both front wheels should be off the ground

This and this.

[Dern]

i did do one of the top bolts on the ground but got so fed up with that one i put it up and looked see if there was anything i could do underneath.

What will i need to do to get the bottom bolt threads to line up with the shock holes then? pri it down using a breaker bar on the wishbone arms or something?

[biojo]

yer i used a big crow bar, in corner of lower arm, get some one to push it down, whilst u align holes

[Ed.innit]

Go to machine mart and buy the £70 impact gun.
Makes life sooooooooooooo much easier working on the car...
Even removing the wheel, crack the bolts with a breaker bar, then buz them right out...

If you dont work on your car much, wack it up on here for sale, sure youll get £50 for it...
Then youve done your job for £20...

[Tony Hunter]

I would be surprised if a £70 gun will undo strut top mount nuts.

[biojo]

Ive always got mine off with allen key even after fitted for 4 years came off.

Right size allen key, pit it though hole on a spanner or in a bar to extend it, then bit of force with swan neck spanner on nut n done.

Or get the halfords pro ones least they replace if u break the ends

[Ed.innit]

I would be surprised if a £70 gun will undo strut top mount nuts.

Mine did, although I got the £115 clarke one (still not amazing...)
Although in my experience, the nuts are never tight, just no way of holding the damper shaft as its nearly always rounded...

[Dern]

cheers lads, got the hub back on the strut with some playing, shoved a screwdriver through the top hole as it was lined up abit then messed about with it until the bottom hole was sitting right, so back on the road atleast.

Yeah top bolt looking to be rounding abit now, decent shout about putting a bar over the allen key though, although cant get grip with the swan neck spanner now!

just put 172 alloys on and got rubbing on the back also taking the arch liners out for the time being as its rubbing on the inside.

[biojo]

Which side are u stuck on

for me drivers side allen key in spanner on end and wedge it upto the bulk head.

passenger side piece of wood on bulkhead and same.

I dont get how u couldnt grip spanner just turn it a bit, unless uve rounder the top allen key hole?

[Dern]

Its the drivers side i'm stuck on, the allen key hole's fine but its the 21mm nut that looks to have rounded off, so try and wedge the spanner up against the bulk head and try turn the allen key sounds the most likely with something shoved over the end..

thanks for the advice and i'll have a crack after work!

[biojo]

ye put spanner in so its angled over body of car, then angle alen key with spanner on end so its nearly touching bulk head then push swan neck spanner so the other spanner push`s against bulk head , and use bit of pressure should work, always has for me

[Dern]

okay mate will try thanks, had me and a friend pushing as hard as we could, one on the spanner and one on allen key and nothing!

Looks to have had a recently new spring on that side so must have got a right steroid muncher to tighten it.

[Struggler]

just put it all back together and take it to a garage with an impact gun! will have it off with ease! have them crack them off and just dont tighten them up too much for the careful drive home!

[Dern]

Yeah that was another thought, its all back together now so i'll have a bash at it then if its not playing i'll go down to somewhere.

Bit off topic but just put 172 alloys on a non sport and they're rubbing on the inside on the back, heard of anyone else having that problem? some decent spacers fix it you reckon anyone?

Edit - also with it going lower it would need to clear the arch liner then also.

[Chip-mk1]

Where are you from? surely there must be someone local to you with an air gun or battery impact gun on here?

[Dern]

South Yorkshire - Barnsley Area, Seen a couple of nice 182's round here, one in that Racing blue colour is it? realllyyy nice.