I'm having a lot of trouble getting the top nut of the strut, so I can swap springs. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this easier. I did compress the spring before I attempted it btw, but still no luck

 

you need to compress the spring and release all the tension first. An impact wrench is necessary to remove the top nut.

 

Impact gun would be nice but me and a buddy got it off by pure strength! Yea compressing the spring would be helpful.

 

Impact gun? I don't think that will work because you need to hold the center stud with vise grips. It shouldn't be too tight, because the torque is only 40-47 ft-lbs. I used an offset wrench like this.

 

Use a Vise Grip clamp it to the rod of the Strut. Hold it while you take the nut off. When trying to take the nut off the strut just spins freely. If you hold the rod with a Vise Grip comes rite out. This is how I have done all my drops.

 

gotcha, i figured I would prob need the offset wrench, but just wanted to be sure thats the right way to go about it...better ask then strip a nut. Ha

Thanks,
Mario

 

Whatever you do, please read this:

Do not try to loosen the bolt without the spring compressed. If you do, the top part can shoot up with a lot of force and seriously hurt you (put out your eye, whatever), or someone else.

I hadn't even thought about this, but when I brought my spring assembly by sears and asked the tech to loosen it for me (which maybe you can do too!), he was real careful about this.