DEFCON 2, strut bearings and ball joints done!... car is ready for the road, see you in a few hours

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Nov 17, 2006 | 10:52 AM

HACK THS

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DEFCON 2, strut bearings and ball joints done!... car is ready for the road, see you in a few hours

By the way it took a propane torch and a bunch of new craftsman tools to make it happen, but I got the damn nut off. I think the problem was that when they installed my suspension back in the day they used an impact wrench to install the nuts the first time since they did not know how to make the strut from spinning. Any ways, they are all done!

Also which was interesting, the bearings were totally intact on both sides, the rubber mounts were obviously compressed a decent amount. Thought it was not too bad after 105,000 miles

Nov 17, 2006 | 11:31 AM

sonus

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So how exactly, did you get the strut nuts off? I may be in the same predicament as you.

Nov 17, 2006 | 12:20 PM

SparTTan

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Ha, I ran in to the same issue.

The hex key hole on the top of the strut actually stripped in the process. I have a feeling the shop that installed my suspension over-tightened everything. I managed to get everything back together but I hope I never have to get those things off again.

Btw, my bearings were completely fine too, but bushings were compressed. Not too bad though.

Nov 18, 2006 | 08:10 AM

HACK THS

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I had to use a torch to heat it up...

I found that the impact wrench was less effective then my pry bar and sockets... it was scary but I put all my weight on that nut, leaning over the engine bay almost. Then poof it came off.