PLEASE HELP...cannot remove strut from assembly
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PLEASE HELP...cannot remove strut from assembly
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/51051/img_0636.jpg"></center><p>I am in the process of removing my stock struts/springs to replace with an Eibach Pro-System and cannot for the life of me get this strut out of the top collar assembly. The picture is of the rear assembly from a 1998 A6Q. I cannot get the nut out to be able to turn the nut while holding the slotted piston. What do I do? I do not know how to include two photos so I will respond to this thread with another photo.
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From: Wilbur by the Sea
You either need to hit it with a impact wrench or....
hold the nut with an opened wrench and hold the strut with another smaller open eneded wrench. They make a tool for this, an open type socket.
But if you have an impact wrench, just go to town on it, it will come off. You might want to hit it with some WD-40 too.
But if you have an impact wrench, just go to town on it, it will come off. You might want to hit it with some WD-40 too.
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The nut is recessed and I cannot grab hold of it...
did you mean there is an open end wrench that sinks into the hole to grab the nut, allowing me to use another wrench to hold the slotted piston?
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I used an impact wrench to loosen and to tighten I got an O-Ratchet from Sears
It has a hex type attachment with a hole through the center. It goes in perfect and allows a tool inside to hold the strut from spinning. I'd post pics if I had some of them.
Here is one I found on the web...
<img src="http://www.russellsformen.com/images2/or-34769.jpg">
Here is one I found on the web...
<img src="http://www.russellsformen.com/images2/or-34769.jpg">
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From: Arvada, CO
The factory tool is a cutout deep socket like this.
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/22057/000149.jpg"></center><p>I bought it years ago to do struts on previous Audis. I can't believe how many times that I have used it.
If you can't borrow, or make one, an air impact would make short work of it. That is what I use now.
If you can't borrow, or make one, an air impact would make short work of it. That is what I use now.
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when I did my '98, I used my air gun and it spun off. If the shaft still spins....
put a pair of strong vise grips on the shaft of the shock through the spring. Yes, you will scrape and damage the strut, but you are likely going to throw it away anyway.
Other option- buy new upper piece and don't worry about the old one.
Other option- buy new upper piece and don't worry about the old one.
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From: Warwickshire
There is a very crude way........
slide the bump stop rubber down towards the damper body away from the top mount.
You should now be able to see the top of the steel shaft. Put some grips on the shaft right up as near the top as you can. This will mark the shaft somewhat but as it will be at the very top it is beyond the range that the seals in the damper body actually ever reach so it does not matter.
When you re-assemble them, you may not need to do this at all. Very often you can get the nut to tighten up without locking the shaft at all, just see how it goes.
Whatever happens, do not ever risk damaging the shaft in the area of movement. It will cause the damper seals to fail if no time at all.
You should now be able to see the top of the steel shaft. Put some grips on the shaft right up as near the top as you can. This will mark the shaft somewhat but as it will be at the very top it is beyond the range that the seals in the damper body actually ever reach so it does not matter.
When you re-assemble them, you may not need to do this at all. Very often you can get the nut to tighten up without locking the shaft at all, just see how it goes.
Whatever happens, do not ever risk damaging the shaft in the area of movement. It will cause the damper seals to fail if no time at all.
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