I have everything taken apart strut is unbolted from spindle and the top strut nut is off but the strut won't drop! I tried a couple of light taps with a hammer to help it move but with no success. Spins freely in the bearing but will not drop. Any ideas? Soaked in WD-40 but still nothing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

If the nut is off there's nothing holding it in. Give it a better whack with a bigger tool.

 

Okay, will give it another try, just wasn't sure if I was missing something, and didn't want to screw up the strut tower.
Thanks!

 

Put the nut back on a few turns before you smack it or else the strut might shoot into a flex line or into your foot.

 

Good idea......thanks!

 

If you are reusing the strut then do not smash the top of it with a hammer. You will ruin the threads and will never be able to get the nut threaded back on. Even putting the nut on a few threads and hammering on the nut can distort the first few threads. Like mentioned above, if the nut is loose or off then it will come out with a little love.

Now is the perfect time to replace the strut tower plates with new OEM replacement. If youre having trouble removing the strut then its safe to say that the rubber in the strut plates are worm out and dry rotted.

If you decide to replace them then you should get an alignment

 

hook the strut back up the spindle loosely. let arm hang so that the spring is putting pressure on the strut. put the nut back on the top of the strut so that it sits about flush with the top of the strut and hit it harder with a bigger hammer. once it pops loose, jack up under the control arm to take the pressure off it and remove the nuts. the strut will come right out.

 

If you go the hammer route, make sure you have something holding the coil in place. Don't need a ER bill in the mix too...

 

Thanks all, soaked in WD-40, gave it a few whacks with a heavier hammer and it finally let go. Other side dropped no problem at all. Installing Eibach pro-kit, KYB struts and shocks, Energy Suspension end links and sway bar bushings.

Waiting for my T5 to come back from the shop, get it back in, car on the ground and off to the alignment shop!

Thanks again all for your help!