I have only put maybe 1k miles on my new koni struts. The other day when I was taking my axles out I found that the top nut on the drivers side strut would not come off after attempting all different kinds of things. The struts are on full hard right now and I just found that on the same strut the adjustment only makes about a half turn. I dont know if its because I was trying soo many things to get the bolt off but I dont see how anything could cause that adjustment to not turn inside there. Anyone else have this problem? I guess I should give koni a call.
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Adjustment on koni strut
- Thread starter SJon85
- Start date
Not sure on the adjustment issue. Sometimes they stick.
You need this for removing the top nut with koni's.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM217384968P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
I wish there was a Craftsman equivalent.
You need this for removing the top nut with koni's.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM217384968P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
I wish there was a Craftsman equivalent.
striker2
Official CEG Vendor
a pair of wrenches works just fine, or if you have one an impact gun works even better.
How do you manage with a pair of wrenches? I've had such a hard time.
Yeah, the impact is the 'best' solution, but not available for most of CEG, hence the pass thru suggestion.
Yeah, the impact is the 'best' solution, but not available for most of CEG, hence the pass thru suggestion.
striker2
Official CEG Vendor
18 or 19mm (cant remember which) open end for the bottom and a 9mm box end for the top. the larger wrench is not perfectly straight on obviously but it works well.
i understand not everyone has an impact but if you do any major work on cars its worth picking up a compressor and impact. other than that, the pass through sockets are a good choice as well.
I actually just invested in a compressor and 550tq impact, very nice to have. I tried soaking it in PB blaster and the impact gun and got no where. And for the adjustment it was making a half turn and now its completely solid, wont move at all. I also drove it yesterday and felt that the front doesn't ride like it did, seems kinda bouncy in that corner.
It's an 18mm for the top nut if you reuse the stock one on top... I just did this so I remember it rather easy
You can also use a crow's foot to tight/loosen the top retaining nut, and put a 6 point deepwell on the top of the strut to keep it from turning. I bought a set of metric "flare nut" type crow's feet from Sears just for this purpose. They were expensive but worth it.
Shannon
Well after trying an impact gun, heat, pb blaster, and crowfoots this bolt still hasn't moved at all. I put it on using channel locks to hold the bolt and a 9mm deep socket on the strut to tighten it just like I did on the other side that came off no problem. Looks as if I will have to cut it off somehow therefore voiding the warranty on the strut, just great. I wonder if I can somehow melt the strut mount causing it to loosen up the tension on the bolt. Any suggestions from the CEG pros?
striker2
Official CEG Vendor
when you tried the impact gun, did you just pull the trigger and lay on it? if so, try giving it lots of short, quick bursts instead.
striker2
Official CEG Vendor
make sure that the strut isnt hanging so that the upper plate isnt putting extra pressure on the nut. last resort you could probably carefully cut out the very inner section of the top plate so that the strut can be removed, then you can get a real wrench on both the strut and nut to remove it.
TourEnvy
Hard-core CEG'er
I bought a 18mm box end wrench with two 45* angles, it bends down and flattens out right before the box end. it fits perfect into the upper mount. That was a craftsman.
edit:
here you go, it was a dream.
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...box+end+wrench&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=L2
edit:
here you go, it was a dream.
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...box+end+wrench&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=L2
Well I ended up cutting the strut off. Tried some wrenches and again got no where. Its stuck on there to the point of the top of the strut is starting to strip because I am wrenching on it soo hard. Also all the fluid comes out of the top of the strut when I pull the shaft out of the base. Tomorrow I am going to call Koni and see what they say about it. Here's a pic
striker2
Official CEG Vendor
looking at those threads on the top it looks like the nut is cross threaded (or the wrong pitch nut was used). a cross threaded nut would most certainly cause you difficulties in removing it from the strut.
striker2
Official CEG Vendor
what springs were you using? im going to guess and say GCs.
striker2
Official CEG Vendor
no, i dont think the height has any real relevance, although being excessively low might. I think its actually how the setup transfers force through the components that causes problems. when the weight is transfered to the strut, it wants to push on the outside of the upper mount (where a standard spring would sit). however with GCs, there is nothing on the outside to push against, just the very center. going to low might make this worse as there will actually be more weight transfer due to the longer than stock roll couple (length between the center of gravity and the roll center).