Started replacing my struts with the Bilstein 5100's.. Got them off and compressed the spring...started taking off the top nut to release the strut... The whole shaft is spinning, i cannot get the rusted nut off... Tried pb blaster, vice grips... Nothing... Anybody have any pointers...? This is turning into a project from hell...

 

Impact wrench is usually the easiest way. The quick shock and speed will usually be enough to overcome its desire to spin.

 

I tried with an impact wrench n got nothing. I'll try again first thing in the AM with am impact again. Sucks i cant finish today bc i am working on it at the navy base hobby shop and have it up on the lift. Thanks. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

Sometimes the strut rod will have a place to put a wrench, but I've never had much luck with getting that to work.

Another option is to back off your strut compressors and let the spring put some tension - just be really carefull that the strut compressors are still holding on and won't slip off.

If all else fails you could cut/split the nut off with a cutoff wheel, assuming your new struts came with a replacment.

 

4. Position Strut Nut Wrench 9362 (1), on shock shaft retaining nut. Next, insert 8 mm socket though Wrench onto hex located on end of shock shaft. While holding shock shaft from turning, remove nut from shock shaft using Wrench (1).

The special tool 9362 is basically a socket with a handle that allows a 8 mm socket to fit through the middle to get to the shaft and hold it. You can make one yourself with a tall socket and cut the top off to allow the 8 MM one to fit inside it. then you can use a pipe wrench or vice grips on the larger one while holding the shaft from turning. If the penetrating oild does not work overnight, then try some localized heat to see if that breaks it loose.

If all else fails, take the whole assy to a shop that does this kind of work and theyll have the tools. I had a similar problem on a strut about 3 years ago and I ended going to a local shop and they charged me $10 a side.

 

Thanks guys! Will try some of these ideas tomorrow when I get back to the shop.

OldJeep/Pedro thanks for those ideas, greatly appreciated I'll let y'all know how it goes. Wish I would have known about this 9362 tool lol...

Hopefully the other strut gives me MUCH less issues...all these rusted bolts from living in the north SUCK!

 

Not that it helps out the OP, but it looks like you can buy one of those tools for about $25 from Miller Tool
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Miller-Strut...item35b760f72e

 

Sometimes you have to leave a little bit of pressure on the coil, do not have the coil just flopping around on the strut. It is a nylock nut, so there is going to be some resistance to overcome.

Those side clamp strut compressors are pretty crappy. When things go wrong, bad things happen. You would probably be better off taking your strut assemblies into a shop and paying to have them swap your struts. If we didn't have a good wall mounted strut compressor here at work, I'd take stuff other places to have it done.

 

Guys thanks for the help, I ended up relieving some of the pressure on the spring and just held the impact on it for damn near 45 seconds and it finally gave way. Then jumped over to the passenger side, finished that one in about an hour w/ some buddies help...That driver side just kicked my a$$. I will be posting pics up either tonight or tomorrow and will create a DIY thread, tooks tons of pictures. Thanks once again for all the help, much appreciated!

 

I was using a wall mount strut compressor and it worked great for holding it, much safer than using the standard side clamp compressors.