Change front shocks

[T.Hanson]

Too late. If using an air gun to spin the nylock nut off the shaft spins the inner flubbies of the shock, somebody should have been there with the wacky wrench combo. One deep box wrench with a magic thin side handle that allows the weenie square wrench to hold the shaft.

Do those wrenches exist in Bavaria ? They don't at Autozone.

How about the retainer ring with the two notches that holds the shock in the strut tube ? I got the free wrench from Bilstein years ago, before they quit tossing them in free. Because they are made of forged play doh and the tabs bend.

I'm guessing a torch would invite destruction of the shock. So far, turning that retainer nut looks to involve the strut being welded to a truck bumper so's not to turn, while I find a way to chain an elephant to a pipe wrench to loosen the nut.

[Mike W.]

Naw, it's all easy. If you have air and it still spins the strut shaft, cut a piece of rubber like an old heater hose, or even wrap a pair of channellocks with 50 wraps of electrical tape, and grab the shaft with it, then hit it with the impact. The big castle nut you want to loosen before you disassemble things, but a 14" pipe wrench with cheater if needed makes short work of it. If it's not real tight even a large channellocks will take it off.

C'mon, complain about something like the dreaded (and rightfully so) heater valve. Now that's something to complain about.

[T.Hanson]

Thank you. I'm trying to avoid using farm tools that wreck the parts I'm fooling with. I mean, with which I am fooling.

I did a heater valve. What I remember was wedging my head under the clutch pedal to get one eye to see behind the hockey puck.

If I ever get a drippy toe again, I may just pull the plates and go to a car lot.

[Mike W.]

Thank you. I'm trying to avoid using farm tools that wreck the parts I'm fooling with. I mean, with which I am fooling.

No, that's why the hose or electrical tape. It's the rubber or plastic in contact with the shock shaft. And a pipe wrench does put teeth marks in the big gland nut for the strut, but unless it's a concurs car, no biggie. It is entirely usable afterwards. I rarely do destructive maintenance/repairs. Only sometimes in the yard even.

[wkohler]

I have even seen concours cars with marred collar nuts. You can't use the Bilstein tool with the spring in place.