Im lost on this one, Im trying to remove the front struts so I can lower the a-arm down to swap out my front springs. Problem is I dont know how to/or having problems unbolting the top of the front struts.

So here is where im at, ive already un-capped the strut tower and see the 21mm nut now when i go to take that nut off it freely spins. From there i saw the 10mm portion of the shock thats above the nut. Ive tried to hold it with a 10mm wrench and turn the 21mm nut but it seems like if I give it all that it needs to break the nut ill snap my 10mm before hand. Is there another method to this? Ive been knowen to break stuff using my cave man strength but in this case id like to avoid that. Thanks for any help

 

A quick note: those aren't "shocks", they're struts.

Leave the top of them alone. Best left undisturbed, unless you're replacing the strut, for the reason you're having trouble, among others. That tends to be a one-time-only operation, with no going back, you gotta replace the strut, which is probably not a bad idea anyway. They wear out faster than any other part of the whole suspension.

If you REALLY need them totally out of the car for some reason, take the 3 alignment nuts off.

 

ive never messed with the strut to change springs.

 

Thanks for the clarification.

 

Also note that you are going to need a set of inside spring compressors to safely take the springs out. Just dropping the A-arm is asking to loose a limb or at least rip your fender off as the spring exits the garage roof. Stock springs are so long that they are compressed several inches even with the a-arm all the way down which can be a couple thousand pounds of force.

The ONLY way to get the springs out without a compressor is to take the chassis to A-arm bolts out with a jack under the arm and slowly lower the arms. The problem is getting them back in as the car will most likely lift before you get the bolt holes lined back up.

 

ive changed springs more times than i care too, and ive never undone the a arm bolts.
only the ball joint stud. so its not the ONLY way.
if you manage the spring compressor right on the coils, it will not lift the car.
not saying it wont work, but i would undo the ball joint from the spindle before i messed with the a arm bolts.

 

snap-on (as well as a few others, i'd guess) make oblong sockets for holding the top portion of the strut. A few manufacturers use a standard hex on the end of the strut shaft.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

 

when i did my springs i used and internal spring compresor that i borrowed form auto-zone for free ($20 deposit that you get back when the tool is returned) I removed the lower a-arm bolts and left the ball joint connected. you can get instructions from the auto-zone web site as well as other manuals.http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us...rInfoPages.htm

 

Notice in my post I said "WITHOUT a spring compressor" you will have to remove the A-arm bolts. With a a spring compressor just pop the ball joing and let the A-arm down.

Stock IROC springs with half a coil cut, and you won't need the compressor to put it back together, at last I didn't on my G-body.

 

well i think you guys covered everything but, the apparent question at hand but, maybe i'm the 1 missing it here.

what i gather is he needs to remove the strut, if your wrech fits tight then use a dang craftsman and put a cheater bar on it it'll come off.

or if you are going to replace them like you probably should anyways, get a buddy and a big pair of channel locks and have him hold the top tube while u zip the nut off.

or last and by far best if it works, if you have the chance just use an impact gun (a good hi torque hi speed 1) , would be better than crushing the strut with channel locks and i guess you would avoid the cheater bar too.

maybe i'm missing it though i dunno...