Lowering

[donsrno1]

Going to finally be lowering my Mk1 1.4RT next week. I think I pretty much know what I'm doing but the only thing I'm not sure of is the best way of undoing the strut top nut.

I have seen a few people mentioning using a 21mm deep socket - but I thought you had to hold the piston in the strut in place with an alan key whilst undoing the nut? What is the best way to get the nut off as I am struggling to find a 21mm offset spanner anywhere.

Thanks.

 

[Fred@BTM]

you "shouldn't" need to hold it with an allen key, it "should" come off on its own

BUT a lot get rusty etc, or have been air gunned on by a muppet

i use a 12V impact gun

 

[donsrno1]

ahh, so it's not necessarily the case that you have to hold it. Will you do any damage if you turn the nut but the piston is also turning?

I'll try and find a 21mm offset spanner on the net somewhere and it should save some of the hassle.

Thanks fred.

 

[donsrno1]

is THIS the sort of thing you use? Don't know if this would even be worth going for as it would no doubt break after little use.

 

[Fred@BTM]

yeah thats the jobbie, they're not the best, but cheap and cheerful

you won't cause any damage no, but you might pop the spring out of the top cap

 

[donsrno1]

Does it matter about holding the centre part in place when tightening it up or can you just use a normal wrench and torque it to the correct settings?

I saw THIS which is really cheap (my main concern, lol) but do you think the chrome vanvadium sockets would be any use as I would have thought they may just shatter when in use?

Thanks.

 

[Fred@BTM]

chromies are fine

no need to hold the shaft when tightening back up, do it by hand using a socket and a rachet, you'll feel a turning resistance when its tight (don't go mad though, otherwise you will pop the spring out)

 

[donsrno1]

good stuff mate - thanks for your help.

 

[u33db]

Going to finally be lowering my Mk1 1.4RT next week. I think I pretty much know what I'm doing but the only thing I'm not sure of is the best way of undoing the strut top nut.

I have seen a few people mentioning using a 21mm deep socket - but I thought you had to hold the piston in the strut in place with an alan key whilst undoing the nut? What is the best way to get the nut off as I am struggling to find a 21mm offset spanner anywhere.

Thanks.

Take it to a garage and get them to airgun the strut top nut off then put it back on finger tight...quicker and will save any hassle.

 

[donsrno1]

Yeah, I suppose I could do that as well mate but I'm thinking now that I might just get a 12v impact wrench like Fred suggested as they would do the job.

Does anyonehave any idea where else I could try to get a cheap one as the one for £8.33 at argos is sold out in all the stores near me?

 

[Neil G]

Bit of WD40 on nuts the day before your going to do the job always helps if rust is an issue

 

[u33db]

Yeah, I suppose I could do that as well mate but I'm thinking now that I might just get a 12v impact wrench like Fred suggested as they would do the job.

Yeah i suppose but most garages will loosen them off for free...thats more pennies in your pocket!

 

[donsrno1]

yeah, TBH I don't know if the garages near me would do it for free as there are two about 30 seconds drive from my house but both can be total pricks from my experience. I would just rather have the impact wrench as I'm sure it would come in usefull in the future as well.