Therusterman 59 Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) Soo, had a go at replacing the front struts. Usually a 7mm allen key and socket are enough to undo the suspension top nut until... When trying to undo the nut heard it crack and thought I'd got it moving, until I realised I've now rounded the hex part of the strut. Any suggestions on what to try? Seen as the top of this strut is now buggered I'm resigned to the fact of just getting the angle grinder and cutting the top of the strut piston off. Edited November 3, 2014 by Therusterman Link to post Share on other sites
Jimjon 28 Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Have you tried an airgun/impact gun, they can undo them so fast the strut doesn't spin. Or you can try gripping the shaft/rod from underneath, although that's quite tricky as it round and can get a bit chewed up if trying mole grips. Surreyvr6 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Therusterman 59 Posted November 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Yeah I've been using my cordless impact gun which normally is enough but the centre just spins around. Waiting for some proper cutting discs to arrive so will give the mole grip method a whirl, if not I'll cut it apart. Link to post Share on other sites
craggsy 91 Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 It should all come out as a whole if you changing struts. Makes it easier to get a grip on things Link to post Share on other sites
Therusterman 59 Posted November 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 It should all come out as a whole if you changing struts. Makes it easier to get a grip on things Will do just that when the time comes. Got the impact gun battery on charge now so will give it another try to at least loosen it with it still on the car. Link to post Share on other sites
Jimjon 28 Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 What bit did you turn with the impact gun, the allen key bit? As i think that will need to turn the opposite way to normal, i.e: tighten/clockwise the shaft to undo the nut Link to post Share on other sites
Therusterman 59 Posted November 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 The allen key bit is no more, rounded that out. Link to post Share on other sites
VR6CABBS 1,311 Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Ermmmm you shouldn't need to remove that if you removing the whole strut. Just undo the two at the bottom and drop it. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites
Therusterman 59 Posted November 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) Yes, but once the strut is off I'll need the spring and upper mount, bearing etc to put on the new damper, which is when the top nuts will need to come off Edited November 3, 2014 by Therusterman Link to post Share on other sites
Surreyvr6 199 Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 If you can get somewhere with an air gun, that will Deffo get the nut off. See what your battery impacts like when fully charged but if it's like the one I have at work I wouldn't have thought it would spin quick enough compared to air guns Sent from your mums iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites
Reaperx 181 Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Battery impact gun and mole grips always do the job for me when I change dampers. Plenty of wd40 on the threads and wind it on and off a few times don't just try go straight off or it could lock up. Link to post Share on other sites
Therusterman 59 Posted November 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 If you can get somewhere with an air gun, that will Deffo get the nut off. See what your battery impacts like when fully charged but if it's like the one I have at work I wouldn't have thought it would spin quick enough compared to air gunsSent from your mums iPhone using Tapatalk Gave it a full charge for a couple of hours earlier this afternoon and still no joy. Battery impact gun and mole grips always do the job for me when I change dampers. Plenty of wd40 on the threads and wind it on and off a few times don't just try go straight off or it could lock up. Ordered a new set of mole grips this evening as well so I'll give that approach a go. Link to post Share on other sites
Surreyvr6 199 Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 I think you will be lucky if you can get mole grips to work, even when clamped down stupidly tight I found the centre kept spinning round. If you know anyone with an air gun or local garage, take the whole struts down and they should whip the nut off with an air gunSent from your mums iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites
VR6CABBS 1,311 Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 I did mine whilst on the floor still on wheels so it was under pressure with an air gun. I just wound it to the end the removed it from the car. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Surreyvr6 1 Link to post Share on other sites
CALICO 130 Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 Try jacking the car up under that wishbone so as fully stressed then buzz it with impact gun. Link to post Share on other sites
Therusterman 59 Posted November 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 Getting some bits to help me with this through the post now, so come the weekend I'll be better prepared to get it apart. One way or another I'll figure something out. Thanks all for the pointers so far Link to post Share on other sites
daveyboy 897 Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 This I what I had to do as I had the same problem VR6CABBS 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Therusterman 59 Posted November 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 (edited) Luckily I can get that top nut off, so I can remove the strut from the car, its the one below its is been difficult. Obligatory VagCat image below, part #28 Edited November 6, 2014 by Therusterman Link to post Share on other sites
Therusterman 59 Posted November 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 All sorted. Dropped the strut off again today, clamped a pair of mole grips with an old microfibre cloth around the strut to protect it and buzzed the nut off. VR6CABBS 1 Link to post Share on other sites
VR6CABBS 1,311 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 All sorted. Dropped the strut off again today, clamped a pair of mole grips with an old microfibre cloth around the strut to protect it and buzzed the nut off.Glad you eventually managed it pal. These things are sent to test..... Haha Link to post Share on other sites
Therusterman 59 Posted November 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Indeed mate. What's a little frustrating is I was close to getting it apart on the first attempt, but got a case of the fxxk em's and put it all back together! Link to post Share on other sites
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