Cant loosen Front shock abosrber

[Wakz]

Im trying to to remove the shock abosrber to fit a new spring, but when i loosen the top mount the plate on the inside just spins and nothing is loosening, theres no spring in it which might be why how can i go about getting the mount off? Thanks for any help.

 

[aucky]

Do you mean the nut on the top mount inside the engine bay?

Have you tried working against an allen key on the shaft?
If so, you're next stage is getting a garage to get the air gun on it to shock it.

 

[_WILL_]

Not 100% which bit you mean but to remove the top mount you have to use an Allen key to stop the piston rod rotating and use a ring spanner to undo the top mount. If it is like the 172 the whole top mount should rotate.

I did mine the other day and it was a b**ch. Bent one Allen key so bad it is not unusable and then snapped a socket style one ( halfords replaced it ).

Hope that helps?

 

[aucky]

Maybe I should've been clearer as above. That nut is a b**ch to undo, I could see my allen key bending before my eyes so I took it to the garage, 2 seconds later: undone.

 

[MJRacing]

Are you trying with the front of the car jacked up? Done mine with the car on the floor and just a spanner with a quick sharp turn following the guide on here. No need for the Allen key. I did spray the nut a week before and again the day before i removed it.

 

[BLT]

If not buy an impact wrench. One of the best tools I own

 

[Wakz]

Thanks for the replies, havnt tried working against it will try that!
Does anyone know how big the standard spring is, it has 6 coils is that right?

 

[Addicted]

Yep take it to a local garage, get them to undo it for you, and tighten it up enough to drive home on (assuming closest garage is like 2min away).

 

[MartinR]

6mm allen key and man up

 

[BLT]

Could get this as its so cheap and handy
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cir13c-1-2in-impact-wrench-kit-12v

or this is the one that I own
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-cew1000-electric-impact-wrench

Both will easily remove the top mount

 

[Chip-mk1]

Ballache to do with just spanners, I always use an impact gun TBH

If you bothered to fill out your location then someone might be about to offer assistance, for example if you were anywhere near me I would happily do it for you.

 

[Matt@codered]

Impact gun +1.
where are you then chip??? Hehehehehe!!:rasp:

 

[Chip-mk1]

Impact gun +1.
where are you then chip??? Hehehehehe!!:rasp:

Nowhere that I need help mate

 

[Matt@codered]

Hehe!
you've spread yourself thin between Somerset and London now then fella.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Hehe!
you've spread yourself thin between Somerset and London now then fella.

Yes mate, nearly all my work is in london at the moment so there in hotels most of the week, but still living in somerset most weekends.
Did think it was too vague to be worth putting on here, but you're right that its still worth adding.

 

[Wakz]

Thanks for all the replies.
Tried using a spanner and Allen key but it's no use, spanner doesn't really grip well cause of the awkward position.
Guess it will have to go to a garage

 

[BLT]

Well if you lived near me I would happily buzz it off but going to guess that you live a fair distance away.

Like others have said a garage will undo it for you if you don't want to buy and impact wrench

 

[JamesBryan]

Drive to Kwik Fit (yes i know :dapprove and ask to borrow their gun and a 21mm socket to buzz it off, then put it back on loose enough so that you can get it off when you get back home.

Did this the other day with a mates 182.

 

[Wakz]

Thanks for all the replies, managed to get it off finally!
Eventually got new spring on and shocker back on with some hassle.
Tightened the top mount and its doing the same thing as before where it seems to be spinning?
Thats with the car on the ground aswel.

 

[Chip-mk1]

It will spin because nothing is stopping it.

Use a nut gun and it shocks it round fast enough that it doesn't have time to spin, or use an Allen key to hold it still while you turn the nut.

 

[Wakz]

If its left like that for a while, will it loosen up?

 

[.Stevo.C.]

Windy gun is the easiest way to get them off. Take it to a garage and get them to crack it off and nip it back up for you.

 

[Addicted]

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned already (I joke, OP just doesn't listen), get a GARAGE to tighten it up/loosen it with a impact gun!

 

[Chip-mk1]

If its left like that for a while, will it loosen up?

Probably not, but why risk it?

 

[Cup_Phil]

You've only got three choices here

1) Drive to kwikfit or motasave or whatever is near you and friendly - ask them to just rattle the nuts on, takes literally 8 seconds and they'll do it for a bit of beer money

2) Drive to toolstation like I did and fork out £110 on a cordless impact gun, rattle them on yourself

3) Take them off again, clean the hell out of the nut and the thread with some wire wool/wire brush, put some oil on the thread, put the nut on and then put a hex key in the top of the strut to stop it turning. Tighten the nut using a swan neck 21mm spanner by hand. When it starts to get tight go back and forward and back and forward, add a bit more oil. Eventually it'll clean the thread up well enough that you can finish it off by hand. But will probably take 20mins