Seized Coilover Lock Ring

Old 07-09-2011, 10:33 AM
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What I did when mine were seized is when it was in the car (of course after liberal pb blastings) Used a big flat head screwdriver or you can use punch or chisel or something that fits in between the lock ring teeth and just hit that with a hammer. Mine came loose soooo quick.

I found this to be the least damaging way. I've done the spanner wrench and a tube extension as well but that tends to round out the teeth on the lock ring. Heat is pretty much a last resort as it will damage the finish on your coilovers...
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Old 07-09-2011, 10:51 AM
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I'm sure your;e trying this, but rock it back and forth, too - one way, then back, with the different methods people are using. Are the coils on the car?

Not sure what your wrench setups are; Tein wrenches have 1/2" cutouts so you can crank on them with a breaker bar ($10-15 at the auto parts store or HF). In my experience, a lot of the coils use similar enough wrench spacing (my Tein wrenches worked on Cuscos, for example) that you might be able to borrow a set - it's the safest way since it's a locking interface.

Rocking back (even if it seems like it's the opposite direction you want to go) can help clear the threads.
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Old 07-09-2011, 11:13 AM
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About to put the car back in the air. Hopefully I can get it all done.
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Old 07-09-2011, 11:24 AM
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Flathead or Chisel like said above is what always worked for me when they were seized. If you have some around rub some Anti-Seize Lube or Vaseline on the threads when your threading it. It helps a ton when you go back to them to adjust them.
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Old 07-09-2011, 11:24 AM
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Originally Posted by JourdanWithaU
About to put the car back in the air. Hopefully I can get it all done.
What brand of coilovers are these?

The rocking method could work...but in my case it wouldn't budge in any direction and I was using the wrench with cheater extension or like 3 feet. Hitting it with the hammer and screwdriver worked wonders.
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Old 07-09-2011, 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by hwob90
Flathead or Chisel like said above is what always worked for me when they were seized. If you have some around rub some Anti-Seize Lube or Vaseline on the threads when your threading it. It helps a ton when you go back to them to adjust them.
+1 I put antiseize on my new ones.
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Old 07-09-2011, 11:26 AM
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They are BC Coils
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Old 07-09-2011, 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by snowflow
What I did when mine were seized is when it was in the car (of course after liberal pb blastings) Used a big flat head screwdriver or you can use punch or chisel or something that fits in between the lock ring teeth and just hit that with a hammer. Mine came loose soooo quick.
WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!!!

It's free!



Now to clean the **** out of the threads.
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Old 07-09-2011, 11:40 AM
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Originally Posted by snowflow
What brand of coilovers are these?
Originally Posted by hwob90
They are BC Coils
Yup
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Old 07-09-2011, 12:00 PM
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Good ish Jourdan. Glad you got them working again. I hate when that happens.
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Old 07-09-2011, 01:10 PM
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**** this ****... So the seize was on one of the rear struts. Got it free and adjusted the rears. Rear is now lowered about 2 inches. Get the front end up and the wheels off. Both struts are seized worse than the one rear.

Super bummed.

It's time to call the professionals...
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Old 07-09-2011, 03:18 PM
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^ You're not using a big enough hammer.
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Old 07-09-2011, 03:42 PM
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Yeah use like a dead blow hammer and give it quick and hard taps. soak it with something too like wd or pb or something in that nature.
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Old 07-09-2011, 06:12 PM
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Damn, well I hope you can get the fronts done! Good luck.
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Old 07-10-2011, 04:49 PM
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Want me to have at it? I swear I wont burn your whole car down........
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