I'm doing replacement struts all the way around. I started on the rears last night. Everything is good except I can't get the nut off of the strut rod. The strut is completely off the car and the nut is recessed in the plate that goes against the strut well.

Since it is recessed I can't get a good grip on it. It is a 24mm size and my biggest wrench is 22mm so I tried to use an adjustable wrench and then a pair of vise grips. I am also soaking it in PB plaster to try and free up the rust.

I have the 50T torx to hold the rod steady, just can't get a good grip on the nut. I may have to get a boxed 24mm wrench today.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Umm... there'* a setup to make this easy... I think it'* for w-bodies, And randman1 rings a bell as using it. He posted pictures somewhere. I'll search it up in a minute.

do you have access to air tools?

I don't have easy access to air tools. I am going to try to get an offset box wrench in 24mm and see if that will get enough grip on the nut.

Good memory, Dame.





Thw W-body strut kit is from Autozone'* loaner tool program. You really can't do the job without it. The first pic is the entire kit (in the red box) and the second is the only tools you will need out of the kit. The 3/8" and 1/2" ratchets are not in the kit, you will have to provide them.

Thanks!

I'll see if my AZ has the kit.

I got the W kit from AZ and it worked well. Just in case I bought a 24mm combination wrench and it would have worked also since I already had the T50 torx.

Ended up renting the spring compressor bars for the front also. It wasn't as bad of a job as I thought. Just need to get it aligned. All together it saved me about $500 DIY between the labor and the extra markup on the struts.

Just need to get it aligned.

First step before going anywhere. Get the car aligned. That is the most important step in doing any suspension work.


-justin

I couldn't find a box-end wrench with enough offset to work. Can you give more detail on the brand or where you got it? I think I need to add it to my collection of tools

JCW has 90* box heads. However.. I don't know how well they are made. You could take a torch and bend the wrench like they did on American Hot Rod [they even got it replaced under warruntee!]. If you were devious enough.. you could take out the one tool you need, and place in a block of metal, or just nothing. They never even checked the tools I borrowed.. but if you are an honest person, you could always just put down the deposit, and never bring it back [you lose the deposit, however]. There are always options for situations like these .


-justin