help guys!

I tried for like an hour to break the strut nut loose on my 87 TA and it just wont budge.

I jacked the car up and put it on jack stands, then put the jack under the a-arm and compressed the strut little by little trying to get the nut to break loose everytime i stopped. Normally the struts have an allen key hole in the top so you can just put the allen key in it, and bust the nut loose while holding the allen.

i tried to holt the strut rod with vice grips and tuen the nut with a closed end wrench but to no avail.

Any ideas? I will be replacing the struts so if it requires destroying them, ill do it.

 

Use a breaker bar,
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...0088_large.jpg
^^^ There is a cheap one rofl..

 

i have a breaker bar. You cant use a socket on it because the strut shaft will just spin around... which is why you have to hold it with something and use a closed end wrench to remove the nut.

 

I had the same problem and ended up taking the whole mount off and pulling the whole thing up from the top. Then picked up a used set of mounts in good shape to replace them. Eventually I am going to get some Spohn or J&M's, but didn't have the cash at the time. If you have the cash, maybe spring for them now.

 

I used a 13/16 wrench and used the closed side on the big strut nut, then used a 10mm socket on top and they turned free.

Could try and spray some penetrant oil on them?

 

Hit it with an impact wrench. It'll come off faster than the strut shaft can spin.

That is the only way I've ever seen it come loose.

 

x2

 

Just pulled mine today. 21mm on the nut and 10mm on the strut shaft. pair of long armed wrenches and it came loose pretty easy.

 

When I pull my struts I use a strap-wrench on the shaft of the strut to keep it from rotating. Has worked well for me for the last fifteen years.