GAH!!! Need help with suspension - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

misnomer · 02-16-2003, 03:05 PM

I'm replacing the struts on my sister's Sentra, have the struts out but cannot seem to get the bolt off of the top of the strut (that holds the strut to the upper mount). I've been trying to loosen it on the clamp, but the only movment I get is the full shaft, the bolt just won't loosen.

Anybody have any tricks to deal with this? I've got a good set of tools, but no air wrench or compressor.

drift into a curb · 02-16-2003, 05:14 PM

Make sure to use the spring compressor so the spring doesn't shoot up when you unscrew the strut nuts. Hmm to keep the shaft from moving, I used a vice grip to hold it in place. I did this because my struts were blown. The shaft should have a tab at the top that will allow you to hold the shaft still. Sorry, if it's confusing. Good luck.

misnomer · 02-16-2003, 06:26 PM

Of course I have a spring compressor. I have researched that same method you suggested. Unfortunately, it's recessed, the only thing I can reach it with is a socket, and even if it wasn't, it takes all the force I can put on it with a breaker bar to get the thing to turn anyhow (and then the piston turns). Thing isn't rusty. It's been sitting in a pool of wd40 for hours, and still nothing.

drift into a curb · 02-16-2003, 06:45 PM

Are you going to keep those struts? On one of my struts, I used the vice grip on the strut shaft. It held pretty well, but the vice dug it's teeth in to the shaft damaging it. I'm kind of lost because I don't know what the sentra suspension looks like but hopefully someone else can offer better advice.

*DSC* · 02-16-2003, 07:03 PM

Does it matter whether or not the shock is under load?
I've never done this before so I dono...

misnomer · 02-16-2003, 09:45 PM

The Sentra suspension basically looks like the rear struts on a 240sx. I'll try the vise grips on the shaft, see if it'll grip. It's the struts I"m replacing so I could care less about damaging them. I borrowed an impact wrench from my stepdad, maybe it will do me some good.

HKrpS13 · 02-17-2003, 05:54 AM

I'm not sure how the struts for Sentra's look like but I'm sure you could get the bolt off without useing those grip type of tools and damageing the strut.
Look at the strut from the top. If you see a hex hole, get the right size Hex Wrench and use it so the strut wont turn with the screw.
If you don't see a hole, use a monkey wrench or some tool to hold down the strut. Look very carefuly at the end of the strut, you should be able to tell ths not a perfect circle.

adey · 02-17-2003, 10:02 AM

since you're changing the struts and keeping the springs (I'm assuming, since your topic says changing strut) -- just drill the motherfokker out.

My friend had the same problem when changing the suspension on his FC; the struts came off the car easily, but when he tried to remove the upper mount, the nut just turned the piston.... we were sooooo frustrated trying to get that **** off, tried everything.... breaker bars and sockets, vice grip and socket with breaker bar... everything. In the end we went out and bought some uber-hard drill bits for drilling metal, and tore that shiz apart. :P it wasn't fun(ny) until we got that **** off and the coilovers (no pillow mount) back on his car.

AutoDestruct · 02-17-2003, 11:24 AM

I am trying to do the same thing on the back struts on my 240. No matter what I try the whole shaft just rotates. As soon as I get the snow (2 ft) out of my driveway I am going to take another crack at it, if I figure something out I will defintely post the method for you to try. Hopefully I don't have to damage anything, I have sportlines on Kyb Gr-2's and I would at least like to save them even though I am getting AGX's .

misnomer · 02-17-2003, 11:48 AM

meh, I'm just taking the sons of bitches to the mechanic today, see what he can do with an air wrench. I'm done f*ckin' with it.

AutoDestruct · 02-17-2003, 04:00 PM

I was thinking the same thing, It just is to much of a pain in the ass. My hands already hurt like hell from removing the control arms. This snow made that whole operation a complete b*tch.

misnomer · 02-17-2003, 08:21 PM

Well, found a slick way to get the bolts back on (dunthink it would have the torque to have gotten them off), but I used a 17mm wrench wedged down inside the hole on top of the mount and a 5/8" wrench to grip the tab sticking up on the strut shaft. Takes a while, and is sort of a pain, but it works.

I know what you mean by hands hurting, from all the getting greasy and cleaning grease, my hands are so dry they are bleeding in a couple of spots (must. . . get. . . lotion. . . ).

02-16-2003, 03:05 PM	#1
misnomer Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 2,293 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	GAH!!! Need help with suspension I'm replacing the struts on my sister's Sentra, have the struts out but cannot seem to get the bolt off of the top of the strut (that holds the strut to the upper mount). I've been trying to loosen it on the clamp, but the only movment I get is the full shaft, the bolt just won't loosen. Anybody have any tricks to deal with this? I've got a good set of tools, but no air wrench or compressor. __________________ Rowsdower saves us and saves all the world!

02-16-2003, 06:26 PM	#3
misnomer Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 2,293 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Of course I have a spring compressor. I have researched that same method you suggested. Unfortunately, it's recessed, the only thing I can reach it with is a socket, and even if it wasn't, it takes all the force I can put on it with a breaker bar to get the thing to turn anyhow (and then the piston turns). Thing isn't rusty. It's been sitting in a pool of wd40 for hours, and still nothing. __________________ Rowsdower saves us and saves all the world!

02-16-2003, 07:03 PM	#5
DSC New Title Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: VA Posts: 3,454 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Does it matter whether or not the shock is under load? I've never done this before so I dono... __________________

02-16-2003, 09:45 PM	#6
misnomer Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 2,293 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The Sentra suspension basically looks like the rear struts on a 240sx. I'll try the vise grips on the shaft, see if it'll grip. It's the struts I"m replacing so I could care less about damaging them. I borrowed an impact wrench from my stepdad, maybe it will do me some good. __________________ Rowsdower saves us and saves all the world!

02-17-2003, 10:02 AM	#8
adey Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 3,072 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	since you're changing the struts and keeping the springs (I'm assuming, since your topic says changing strut) -- just drill the motherfokker out. My friend had the same problem when changing the suspension on his FC; the struts came off the car easily, but when he tried to remove the upper mount, the nut just turned the piston.... we were sooooo frustrated trying to get that ** off, tried everything.... breaker bars and sockets, vice grip and socket with breaker bar... everything. In the end we went out and bought some uber-hard drill bits for drilling metal, and tore that shiz apart. :P it wasn't fun(ny) until we got that ** off and the coilovers (no pillow mount) back on his car. __________________ Instagram: @SX180HKG

02-16-2003, 05:14 PM	#2
drift into a curb Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Seoul, South Korea Posts: 2,870 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Make sure to use the spring compressor so the spring doesn't shoot up when you unscrew the strut nuts. Hmm to keep the shaft from moving, I used a vice grip to hold it in place. I did this because my struts were blown. The shaft should have a tab at the top that will allow you to hold the shaft still. Sorry, if it's confusing. Good luck.

02-16-2003, 06:45 PM	#4
drift into a curb Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Seoul, South Korea Posts: 2,870 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Are you going to keep those struts? On one of my struts, I used the vice grip on the strut shaft. It held pretty well, but the vice dug it's teeth in to the shaft damaging it. I'm kind of lost because I don't know what the sentra suspension looks like but hopefully someone else can offer better advice.

02-17-2003, 05:54 AM	#7
HKrpS13 Zilvia Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SoCal Posts: 267 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'm not sure how the struts for Sentra's look like but I'm sure you could get the bolt off without useing those grip type of tools and damageing the strut. Look at the strut from the top. If you see a hex hole, get the right size Hex Wrench and use it so the strut wont turn with the screw. If you don't see a hole, use a monkey wrench or some tool to hold down the strut. Look very carefuly at the end of the strut, you should be able to tell ths not a perfect circle.

02-17-2003, 11:24 AM	#9
AutoDestruct Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: The Burg, Harrisburg Posts: 437 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I am trying to do the same thing on the back struts on my 240. No matter what I try the whole shaft just rotates. As soon as I get the snow (2 ft) out of my driveway I am going to take another crack at it, if I figure something out I will defintely post the method for you to try. Hopefully I don't have to damage anything, I have sportlines on Kyb Gr-2's and I would at least like to save them even though I am getting AGX's .

02-17-2003, 11:48 AM	#10
misnomer Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 2,293 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	meh, I'm just taking the sons of bitches to the mechanic today, see what he can do with an air wrench. I'm done f*ckin' with it. __________________ Rowsdower saves us and saves all the world!

02-17-2003, 04:00 PM	#11
AutoDestruct Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: The Burg, Harrisburg Posts: 437 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I was thinking the same thing, It just is to much of a pain in the ass. My hands already hurt like hell from removing the control arms. This snow made that whole operation a complete b*tch.

02-17-2003, 08:21 PM	#12
misnomer Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 2,293 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Well, found a slick way to get the bolts back on (dunthink it would have the torque to have gotten them off), but I used a 17mm wrench wedged down inside the hole on top of the mount and a 5/8" wrench to grip the tab sticking up on the strut shaft. Takes a while, and is sort of a pain, but it works. I know what you mean by hands hurting, from all the getting greasy and cleaning grease, my hands are so dry they are bleeding in a couple of spots (must. . . get. . . lotion. . . ). __________________ Rowsdower saves us and saves all the world!