Removal of front struts

ChrisSlicks · 08-23-2010, 11:13 PM

Must of been a whole lot of stuff. Removing the bracket is certainly the easiest way possible. Compressing the spring might yield enough clearance to get it out of there without removing it. As I recall the angle on one of the bolts was kind of weird and I couldn't get an impact wrench in there (for removal).

Mike · 08-23-2010, 11:36 PM

there was no compressing, as its a whole unit, but I think I just unbolted the top from the upper a arm, the sway bar end link, and anything else in the way (can't remember what else) but I was easily able to just pull the bottom down by hand and lift it out after the top was unbolted. It was fairly simple

tjlazer · 08-24-2010, 04:45 PM

OK so can the 19mm bolt be removed without using a wrench on the other side?

azn370z · 08-24-2010, 04:55 PM

You should be able to loosen it without a wrench. But for some people it will spin if you don't have a wrench. You still haven't taken the strut out huh.

tjlazer · 08-24-2010, 04:59 PM

Nope I just got the tools and will try in a few days. I'm worried about the stripped bolt but I may just try without removing the bracket

fuct · 08-24-2010, 05:04 PM

you can get it out following the service manual.... do you guys not look over it for torque specs?

azn370z · 08-24-2010, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuct

you can get it out following the service manual.... do you guys not look over it for torque specs?

The service manual doesn't tell you that the bolt spins. But it does in my diy.

tjlazer · 08-25-2010, 01:00 AM

OK I got it. What a biatch. I tell you what I think I'd rather pay the $425 to Nissan to do this! (but I need the $ for more mods!!!) But now I know what it entails and next time it will be easier! I was able to remove the 14mm bolt that was stripped, with a 6 point socket!

Point #1 to make note:

Get a 6 point socket set!!!

Point #2, do remove the bracket with three 14mm bolts! Much easier to remove strut; but I can see how you CAN remove it without but I was not able to.

Point #3, remove the sway bar bolt.

It goes much easier this way!

djpathfinder · 08-25-2010, 02:00 AM

Glad your DIY is now COMPLETED...onto the next one!

Pctree24fan · 07-15-2012, 11:34 PM

When trying to remove the 19mm nut I struggled for a couple of hours trying to get it to loosen up. I used a deep socket 6 sided and it would not budge, did anyone else have trouble with this? Is there some kind of trick? I could get every other bolt or nut to release except the 19mm. Help please

tjlazer · 07-16-2012, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pctree24fan

When trying to remove the 19mm nut I struggled for a couple of hours trying to get it to loosen up. I used a deep socket 6 sided and it would not budge, did anyone else have trouble with this? Is there some kind of trick? I could get every other bolt or nut to release except the 19mm. Help please

Yes it was very hard to remove, I had to get a long breaker bar and pretty much use my feet and put my body weight on it to break them loose.

But be careful as you may strip that nut. That's what I did and had to order two new ones! Make sure and soak it with PB Blaster for a few hours...

Pctree24fan · 07-16-2012, 01:58 PM

So the nut on the other side of the strut, is it also a 19mm or is it a differnt size? I saw some discussion before about this potentially spinning. I would think as long as you can keep it from spinning, get the front nut off and the bracket with the three 14 mm the strut should come right out. Am I thinking correctly?

ChrisSlicks · 07-16-2012, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pctree24fan

So the nut on the other side of the strut, is it also a 19mm or is it a differnt size? I saw some discussion before about this potentially spinning. I would think as long as you can keep it from spinning, get the front nut off and the bracket with the three 14 mm the strut should come right out. Am I thinking correctly?

Yes. Get the 19mm off first and the other 3 will be easy. I don't remember the size of the bolt head on the other side, could have been 19mm. I used an impact wrench to get this one and had no trouble with it spinning. If doing it by hand you might need to lock the other side in place with a box wrench or something. Other than that you just need to remove the 3 nuts at the top of the shock tower, which if you remove the strut tower brace will be very easy to get to.

Pctree24fan · 07-16-2012, 08:34 PM

How long did you have to fight with the 19mm? I have been hitting it for a while, the edges of the nut are starting to deform. I am using a six sided deep socket, so I not real concerned about stripping it out, but it seems like there must be a trick to it. That damn thing will not budge. I have tried the previous idea of putting PBS blaster on it. Still no movement. Any other suggestions?

SPOHN · 07-16-2012, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pctree24fan

How long did you have to fight with the 19mm? I have been hitting it for a while, the edges of the nut are starting to deform. I am using a six sided deep socket, so I not real concerned about stripping it out, but it seems like there must be a trick to it. That damn thing will not budge. I have tried the previous idea of putting PBS blaster on it. Still no movement. Any other suggestions?

Is it spinning? Are you using a breaker bar with some length? Try not to use an extension also. Are you turning it the right way? LOL

08-23-2010, 11:13 PM	#16 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Must of been a whole lot of stuff. Removing the bracket is certainly the easiest way possible. Compressing the spring might yield enough clearance to get it out of there without removing it. As I recall the angle on one of the bolts was kind of weird and I couldn't get an impact wrench in there (for removal). __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

08-23-2010, 11:36 PM	#17 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	there was no compressing, as its a whole unit, but I think I just unbolted the top from the upper a arm, the sway bar end link, and anything else in the way (can't remember what else) but I was easily able to just pull the bottom down by hand and lift it out after the top was unbolted. It was fairly simple __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

08-24-2010, 04:45 PM	#18 (permalink)
tjlazer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tacoma Age: 52 Posts: 2,496 Drives: Z34, R35 Rep Power: 19	OK so can the 19mm bolt be removed without using a wrench on the other side? __________________ 2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

08-24-2010, 04:55 PM	#19 (permalink)
azn370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,722 Drives: z34 - R1 Rep Power: 490	You should be able to loosen it without a wrench. But for some people it will spin if you don't have a wrench. You still haven't taken the strut out huh. __________________ 2010 k23 H&R sport springs / Spc rear camber arms / SSR SP1 / Berk cbe / Varis cf lip / Nismo S-Tune side skirts

08-24-2010, 04:59 PM	#20 (permalink)
tjlazer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tacoma Age: 52 Posts: 2,496 Drives: Z34, R35 Rep Power: 19	Nope I just got the tools and will try in a few days. I'm worried about the stripped bolt but I may just try without removing the bracket __________________ 2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

08-24-2010, 05:04 PM	#21 (permalink)
fuct A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sugar Land Posts: 3,692 Drives: 97' Ranger :) Rep Power: 24	you can get it out following the service manual.... do you guys not look over it for torque specs?

08-25-2010, 01:00 AM	#23 (permalink)
tjlazer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tacoma Age: 52 Posts: 2,496 Drives: Z34, R35 Rep Power: 19	OK I got it. What a biatch. I tell you what I think I'd rather pay the $425 to Nissan to do this! (but I need the $ for more mods!!!) But now I know what it entails and next time it will be easier! I was able to remove the 14mm bolt that was stripped, with a 6 point socket! Point #1 to make note: Get a 6 point socket set!!! Point #2, do remove the bracket with three 14mm bolts! Much easier to remove strut; but I can see how you CAN remove it without but I was not able to. Point #3, remove the sway bar bolt. It goes much easier this way! __________________ 2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

08-25-2010, 02:00 AM	#24 (permalink)
djpathfinder A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 12,910 Drives: 2012 GT-R BE Rep Power: 733	Glad your DIY is now COMPLETED...onto the next one! __________________ 2012 GT-R Black Edition Jet Black 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary // SOLD

07-15-2012, 11:34 PM	#25 (permalink)
Pctree24fan Base Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Denver, NC Posts: 4 Drives: 2010 370Z Touring Rep Power: 13	Having trouble removing the 19 mm nut When trying to remove the 19mm nut I struggled for a couple of hours trying to get it to loosen up. I used a deep socket 6 sided and it would not budge, did anyone else have trouble with this? Is there some kind of trick? I could get every other bolt or nut to release except the 19mm. Help please

07-16-2012, 01:58 PM	#27 (permalink)
Pctree24fan Base Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Denver, NC Posts: 4 Drives: 2010 370Z Touring Rep Power: 13	Another question So the nut on the other side of the strut, is it also a 19mm or is it a differnt size? I saw some discussion before about this potentially spinning. I would think as long as you can keep it from spinning, get the front nut off and the bracket with the three 14 mm the strut should come right out. Am I thinking correctly?

07-16-2012, 08:34 PM	#29 (permalink)
Pctree24fan Base Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Denver, NC Posts: 4 Drives: 2010 370Z Touring Rep Power: 13	ChrisSlicks How long did you have to fight with the 19mm? I have been hitting it for a while, the edges of the nut are starting to deform. I am using a six sided deep socket, so I not real concerned about stripping it out, but it seems like there must be a trick to it. That damn thing will not budge. I have tried the previous idea of putting PBS blaster on it. Still no movement. Any other suggestions?

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