Hey all,

So, I ordered the ECS coilover kit, which on one side has worked very well . It fits right over my Bilstein shocks and mounts up perfectly to my MTM springs. However, on the passenger side, the hex shaped counter-holding slot on the strut mount is stripped (because the last A-hole that worked on it put thread locking compound on the nut, making it almost impossible to get off... ARRGHHHHHHH!!!!). It's very difficult to heat this nut up to loosen the thread locking compound because of the risk of melting the rubber strut mount.

IMHO, this is a pretty bad design. It seems like there should be a better way to remove this nut (without spending mega $$$ on some crazy Audi special wrench). The only way that I have found to remove it is to use a pass-through socket set with a hex wrench and hold the hex wrench while turning the socket. This worked on the driver's side, but now that the center is stripped out on the passenger side. Short of buying a new shock and totally destroying the old one to get the spring/mounting hardware off, I don't know what to do. The shocks are pretty new, I had them put on about 12,000 miles ago. With their low mileage in mind, can I get away with just replacing one, or do I have to do both? I'd prefer to save the $120 and keep this shock if I can. Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

Top View




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View of stripped hex threads on shaft

[IMG]local://upfiles/19629/10EA2563A3AE4FECAF5440DCBD2F09C7.jpg[/IMG]

 

Removing the nut...



Pic of completed driver side...




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[IMG]local://upfiles/19629/1E0BD3D2187C41628FD34FABBEFF17A8.jpg[/IMG]

 

I bet you'ld be calling him an A-hole if he didn't use thread locker and it came loose.
Just use an impact on it. Thats enough to break it lose. If theres a shop around that has a Branik or moog wall mount spring compressor I would recamend that to hold it instead of the POS ones you have on it(springs store energy, and can release it quickly).Good luck.

Bill

 

Impact wrench just turns the shaft. It needs to be counter-held with a hex wrench. Thanks for posting though.

 

There are these sockets you can get at AutoZone that have blades and bite really hard for breaking loose stripped bolts. I had to buy a set for my body lift on my Ranger. They only work counter-clockwise. So if that's the direction you're trying to go it might be just the thing if your regular sockets can't get a bite. I can't remember what they're called but they come in a blue case. I think they run $35 for 8 sizes.

 

There are suppose to be Nylock nuts on there. The center is just to hold the shaft. There is a special tool for this.

What I would do, is remove the spring clamps, & then use a impact gun on it, LISTEN TO ME>>. place the shock on the floor, put your feet on the spring, make sure there is clearance on both sides for the shock to "spring" back. Then use a impact gun to remove the nut. This should pop it, & the shock will move back a foot or so. It is safe, if you do what I said! I have not used spring clamps for quite some time.

You might want to just buy a new shock & spring hat, & use the torch to remove this bolt.

 

Okay, when you say put your feet on the spring, do you mean basically stand on it to make the force of the spring push the shock outward instead of the spring flying all over the place? I assume there isn't a risk of there being so much force that the nut would make the impact wrench fly out of my hand? Thanks in advance.

 

Yea, just rest your foot on top of the spring, it will push the shock back a bit once it comes apart.