trying to swap out stock shocks for konis yet cant get the top nut that holds the shock together off. I tried an impact gun, a box wrench while holding the screw with another wrench and no luck.
any suggestions?

 

Hold the shock shaft with pliers so it doesn't spin and then use the impact gun on the top nut.

 

how do you with the spring in the way? Also I did it with just the impact gun and it didn't seem to spin the shock and it didn't loosen it either. I was using 110 psi yet have a small tank so that may be the problem.

 

You should be able to get pliars in between the springs. I normally just use a breaker bar and have a buddy hold the shaft with the pliars. I also always use a spring compressor to ensure there is no extra pressure pushing up on the top hat and the nut.

 

As King Tut has said, using a spring compressor is the key. Once the spring preload is restrained, I found it easy to use a 17 mm socket to remove the nut. BTW- there's an four page article in the Fall '04 issue of Sport Z Magazine which covers the installation of the Koni 8241 Sport shock kit.

 

I used to have that problem on my sentra se-r spec v when I changed the springs out... did it a bunch of times and had troublem with the strut nut (that rhymes....heh) every time!

Here's the easiest way to do it. You need a strap wrench to hold the shaft of the strut because its probably spinning when you turn the nut... so tighten the strap wrench onto the shaft then hold the bottom of the strut with your feet. Then turn the nut with your ratchet or wrench while holding onto the strap wrench...

This is easier with two people because you can have someone else hold the strap wrench and you can really get a better grip in the strut.

Give it a shot, thats what always worked for me.

 

well I took the car into tire man and had them put the fronts on, and they just called me and told me they blew up one of the new front struts while seating the nut they heated it up or something. this is a big bummer, cause I got the pro solo event tomorrow.

thanks for all your guys input and suggestions

 

Damn I would be pissed. There is no way in hell they should be having to use any heat whatsoever for a front strut install.

 

yep... shoulda done it yourself with the strap wrench... lol, jk. Serious, sorry to hear that, i would be pissed too.

 

forget the pliers - they wont work and it scores the shaft

just use the impact gun, it will come right off