Did I break my strut?

Arrvaxx · 08-09-2013, 03:17 PM

I compressed the OEM spring and tried to unscrew the tophat nut. The rod the nut is attached to now moves and the nut won't unscrew. >.<

Trips · 08-09-2013, 03:32 PM

Try to loosen the nut under pressure first.

If it won't break loose? An impact gun air or cordless maybe needed

Once the nuts loose compress the spring

mults · 08-09-2013, 03:38 PM

Typically, you have to hold the inner rod from turning while loosening the nut. You may have to loosen the nut while the spring is under tension.

Arrvaxx · 08-09-2013, 03:57 PM

F$%^$%^g suburb shops.I know which two to never go to. Neither would air gun them off for me.

I took the spring compressors off and no go. The rod still spins and I can't get a vice on the end -and- a wrench on the nut. Fabulous...coil overs anyone?

6spd · 08-09-2013, 04:00 PM

Pull the dust boot down and grab the rod inside the spring with the vice grips. That should work.

Arrvaxx · 08-09-2013, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6spd

Pull the dust boot down and grab the rod inside the spring with the vice grips. That should work.

DUDE! Rep now and all the beer and women you want if you're ever in Minnesota!

6spd · 08-09-2013, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arrvaxx

DUDE! Rep now and all the beer and women you want if you're ever in Minnesota!

lol you're welcome!

Arrvaxx · 08-09-2013, 06:12 PM

Wahoo! Done! Well...with one front. Now for the other!

Grindkiezer · 08-09-2013, 06:16 PM

Get an offset wrench to hold the rod and then the socket for the top nut

Chuy · 08-09-2013, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trips

Try to loosen the nut under pressure first.

If it won't break loose? An impact gun air or cordless maybe needed

Once the nuts loose compress the spring

Same issue as you, I went with an impact gun though.

synolimit · 08-09-2013, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6spd

Pull the dust boot down and grab the rod inside the spring with the vice grips. That should work.

If you do this you might as well throw the strut away!!

DO NOT DO THIS! Would you throw vise grips down into your cylinder and expect the piston rings to not leak because you scared the cylinder walls??

EVERY!! Strut has an allen head or 6 point nut or something on top to hold the shaft in place. Then a special socket needs lowered down over the main nut and break it lose. Ours happens to have two flat spots on each side where a 10mm wrench can go to hold the shaft.

Again if you spin the shaft to much, use vise grips etc on that rod you pretty much destroyed it because the seals will now leak.

synolimit · 08-09-2013, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arrvaxx

F$%^$%^g suburb shops.I know which two to never go to. Neither would air gun them off for me.

I took the spring compressors off and no go. The rod still spins and I can't get a vice on the end -and- a wrench on the nut. Fabulous...coil overs anyone?

And they're right to! Spinning the shaft without holding it still will destroy the seals. They're right not to impact them.

Arrvaxx · 08-09-2013, 08:03 PM

Maybe we should edit the DIY stuff. Everything I read said use an air gun to get them off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by synolimit

And they're right to! Spinning the shaft without holding it still will destroy the seals. They're right not to impact them.

6spd · 08-09-2013, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by synolimit

If you do this you might as well throw the strut away!!

DO NOT DO THIS! Would you throw vise grips down into your cylinder and expect the piston rings to not leak because you scared the cylinder walls??

EVERY!! Strut has an allen head or 6 point nut or something on top to hold the shaft in place. Then a special socket needs lowered down over the main nut and break it lose. Ours happens to have two flat spots on each side where a 10mm wrench can go to hold the shaft.

Again if you spin the shaft to much, use vise grips etc on that rod you pretty much destroyed it because the seals will now leak.

Ok mr. know it all, whatever you say. Not like I haven't been a car mechanic all my life or anything

djtodd · 08-09-2013, 08:48 PM

I just held the shaft with a crescent wrench and backed the nut off with another. No problemo.

08-09-2013, 03:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Arrvaxx A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Whore Island, MN Posts: 1,243 Drives: 40th F.I. Twin Turbo Rep Power: 18	Did I break my strut? I compressed the OEM spring and tried to unscrew the tophat nut. The rod the nut is attached to now moves and the nut won't unscrew. >.< __________________ 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary (#480 born 1/19/2010) Fast Intentions Twin Turbo \| Varis Arising II \| Limited Edition Recaro Sportster \| Tuned by Specialty Z \| 604hp 525 torque @14lbs boost on 100 octane

08-09-2013, 03:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,730 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	Try to loosen the nut under pressure first. If it won't break loose? An impact gun air or cordless maybe needed Once the nuts loose compress the spring Baer383 likes this. __________________ Last edited by Trips; 08-09-2013 at 03:35 PM.

08-09-2013, 03:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
mults A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Cleveland, OH Age: 69 Posts: 1,830 Drives: 2010 (40th) #706 Rep Power: 16886	Typically, you have to hold the inner rod from turning while loosening the nut. You may have to loosen the nut while the spring is under tension. speedfreek and synolimit like this. __________________ mults 40th Anniversary 'Z', 312.06HP/260.58TQ (Dynosty EcuTek Tune) Build Date/Number: 1/27/2010 #706 Berk HFC + CBE, R2C CAI, Clear Bra, Cleveland Z Club

08-09-2013, 03:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Arrvaxx A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Whore Island, MN Posts: 1,243 Drives: 40th F.I. Twin Turbo Rep Power: 18	F$%^$%^g suburb shops.I know which two to never go to. Neither would air gun them off for me. I took the spring compressors off and no go. The rod still spins and I can't get a vice on the end -and- a wrench on the nut. Fabulous...coil overs anyone? __________________ 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary (#480 born 1/19/2010) Fast Intentions Twin Turbo \| Varis Arising II \| Limited Edition Recaro Sportster \| Tuned by Specialty Z \| 604hp 525 torque @14lbs boost on 100 octane

08-09-2013, 04:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,001 Drives: Q50RS Rep Power: 25	Pull the dust boot down and grab the rod inside the spring with the vice grips. That should work. speedfreek likes this. __________________ -Jay- jonathanjamesphotographer.com

08-09-2013, 06:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Arrvaxx A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Whore Island, MN Posts: 1,243 Drives: 40th F.I. Twin Turbo Rep Power: 18	Wahoo! Done! Well...with one front. Now for the other! __________________ 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary (#480 born 1/19/2010) Fast Intentions Twin Turbo \| Varis Arising II \| Limited Edition Recaro Sportster \| Tuned by Specialty Z \| 604hp 525 torque @14lbs boost on 100 octane

08-09-2013, 06:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
Grindkiezer Track Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 824 Drives: A Car Rep Power: 14	Get an offset wrench to hold the rod and then the socket for the top nut synolimit likes this. __________________ Z

08-09-2013, 08:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
djtodd Track Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 932 Drives: 2012 Nismo TT Rep Power: 3398	I just held the shaft with a crescent wrench and backed the nut off with another. No problemo.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
[FOR SALE] Hood Strut Kit	Carbon_z	Parts for sale (Private Classifieds)	5	03-20-2013 12:59 PM
[WTB] OEM Strut Insulator assembly(Top Hat) or entire Strut	ben1620	Parts for sale (Private Classifieds)	0	08-21-2012 03:26 AM
How to take strut bar off??	ddvette9	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	2	03-01-2011 09:32 AM
FS: stock rotors, calipers, break pads, break lines and connecting hardware for 370z	tank3487	Parts for sale (Private Classifieds)	3	05-05-2010 02:22 PM
hood strut kit?	racerxj17	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	14	07-31-2009 10:16 PM