top nut on the strut tower removal

[97camastang06]

Has anyone tried removing the top nut on the strut tower while it's still on the car??
I was in the process of upgrading my shocks and struts and got my struts out of my car compressed the springs and went to take the top off and the fucking thing just rotates and turns. I called up a.m. And they recommended an impact which I don't have. Or just doing it while the cars on the ground and break the nut loose. I tried some searching and YouTube videos and I think it was late model restoration that actually suggest doing it while it's on the car still. Any thoughts ?

 

[96blowncobra]

Vise grips with a cloth or something in between the jaws to grab the strut itself.

 

[weather man]

You are wrenching on your car, TECH would have been fine.

Set it back down and see what happens.

 

[97camastang06]

You are wrenching on your car, TECH would have been fine.

Set it back down and see what happens.

Yea wasn't sure due to it being a question on how to. What do you mean set it back down and see what happens

 

[weather man]

Yea wasn't sure due to it being a question on how to. What do you mean set it back down and see what happens

They suggested setting it on the ground and breaking it free in your first post.

 

[97camastang06]

They suggested setting it on the ground and breaking it free in your first post.

Got ya. Tried vise grips and a friend holding them. Ran out of daylight so I'll let you know if it works out tomorrow thanks

 

[claudermilk]

Or you could go down to the local auto parts store, borrow spring compressors, and do it right. I don't get all these gyrations people do to avoid using spring compressors & safely disassemble the strut/springs. It's not that much of a hassle, especially considering if things go wrong.

 

[2011/5.0]

Ya advanced auto loans them out for free

 

[TGR96]

Didn't OP say in his first post that he compressed the springs?

 

[joe_momma]

Didn't OP say in his first post that he compressed the springs?

That's how I read it. Best I remember, we used a piece of plywood wedged in there to keep the strut from turning while we wrenched on the nut after we got the springs compressed.

 

[97camastang06]

Yea when I did it the springs were compressed.

 

[eighty6gt]

Spinning and spinning the strut rod can't be great on the seals - however they do rotate when you turn the steering wheel, afaik.

I drilled out a spark plug socket (15/16"?) so that a 1/4 drive would fit through the former 1/2" square drive hole. Put a box end wrench on the spark plug socket hex, a 1/4" drive 1/4" socket (or whatever the heck the formed hex on the top of the strut is,) hold the strut rod with the 1/4" drive socket and spin it off with the box end.

Someone had a picture of it on here at one point. Slick setup.

 

[bcb06gt]

I have a set of male hex sockets. I use the correct socket size and an open wrench. Never a problem.

 

[TexasBlownV8]

I use a large offset box-end wrench so the center can still be accessed and held in place. Works great.