Please help, dealing with coil spring struts

sullivan · Mar 16, 2011

ok so today is ******* me off, im in the garage typing this. i got the shocks finally off and now i cannot remove the bolt to get the springs off. i compressed the springs but the center rod just spins. i dont know how to get this stuff apart. its stressing me out. the strut rod has a head, but i can't hold both and put a impact on the bolt at the same time... help

shadow11 · Mar 16, 2011

Sounds like the strut/rod is all messed up. I know exactly what you are describing cause I changed the struts on my brothers IS today and it was very easy. Maybe just cut the rod off the old strut to get the springs out.

bigtigga84 · Mar 16, 2011

Can you get a pair of pliers on the rod? Soak it in penetrating oil might help too.

bigtigga84 · Mar 16, 2011

I was thinking that too but didn't want to be the one to say it lol.

sullivan · Mar 16, 2011

bigtigga84 said:
Can you get a pair of pliers on the rod? Soak it in penetrating oil might help too.

I've viced the hell out of it with vice grips, and it just spins in them. I need to get a piece of leather or something, maybe a **** tun of duck tape.

Either this or I am taking them to a shop to be removed, or below:

shadow11 said:
Sounds like the strut/rod is all messed up. I know exactly what you are describing cause I changed the struts on my brothers IS today and it was very easy. Maybe just cut the rod off the old strut to get the springs out.

What would I cut the rod with??? Remember I have to go between a slightly compressed spring.

My new bilsteins are the same deal though. is there a special wrench socket that has a hole in it and allows you to turn the bolt and stick a allen wrench inside of that hole?

bigtigga84 · Mar 16, 2011

Angle grinder, but I think he is talking about cutting the nut off the top

shadow11 · Mar 16, 2011

Try a hack saw or a dremel

sullivan · Mar 16, 2011

The top nut is not possible to cut off, its sort of in a deep hole.

Im gona try tomorrow i guess, i hope several layers of duct tape and a massive vise grip and the air impact at 125 PSI will a full tank.

I feel very successful for someone whos never done something like this.

bigtigga84 · Mar 17, 2011

A **** that's right. Been a while since I did mine.

sullivan · Mar 17, 2011

So me and the pops went out and gave it a wack together. And we broke a socket turning the bolt. that fukken thing is stuck. im taking it to a local auto shop and ask them to help me out, my family just did over 5k worth of work with this man. hes a honest good man.

btw, it was a craftsmen socket. buy it once, and only once.

shadow11 · Mar 17, 2011

Sounds like you need to upgrade to Snapon tools

sullivan · Mar 17, 2011

shadow11 said:
Sounds like you need to upgrade to Snapon tools

Or just a proper set of impact sockets.

RubberFrog · Mar 17, 2011

Just cut the shaft. You can get in there with a sawzall. This is a semi common problem.

sullivan · Mar 17, 2011

RubberFrog said:
Just cut the shaft. You can get in there with a sawzall. This is a semi common problem.

Oh god are you serious? I can't seem to get my craftsmen saw to setup right.

Oh my god this is a pain in the ass, shadow how did you do it.

shadow11 · Mar 17, 2011

The nut just came right off for me. No problem at all.

sullivan · Mar 17, 2011

shadow11 said:
The nut just came right off for me. No problem at all.

Darn you. This must have been the ******* fault who installed the shocks on the previous owner. They must have not torqued the bolt down correctly. What a ********. I am honestly tired of working on my truck now, everything I touch is either over tightened or stripped on the head. I have to take these struts to a local shop, NO major shops will touch my struts, and it ****** me off. They won't even just compress them and undo the ONE bolt for me.

shadow11 · Mar 17, 2011

Post a pic real quick so i can see it.

sullivan · Mar 17, 2011

shadow11 said:
Post a pic real quick so i can see it.

Of what exactly. Hurry Im about to take them to this shop.

shadow11 · Mar 17, 2011

Just the strut. I want to see if there is something else you can do.

sullivan · Mar 17, 2011

shadow11 said:
Just the strut. I want to see if there is something else you can do.

Honestly, I've gotten so stressed to even deal with taking a photo of those ********. I'll put some up of the sweet yellow (the bilsteins) my truck's getting on her though. I finished the rear shocks on day 1.

While doing this work, I've realized I want to replace the following:

sway bar links
upper and lower ball joints
inner tie rods

And then I will have a nice reliable in perfect shape truck.

Please help, dealing with coil spring struts

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