So I've spent the past 2 hours or so trying to get a spring off of 1 strut.

Followed the online instructions http://www.deepstaged.net/wrxhnr.htm

to the T, flew right along to step 16, but got stuck...

so I clamp down the strut housing (black part), crank away at the 17mm bolt, its tough at first the top of the housing seams to want to move along with it at times.... then after a while it seems like nothings happening. So I start to turn it clockwise again just to see if it would make a diference. nope. The damn strut cartridge (shiny silver part under the dust boot) is turning with the bolt up top .

Been stuck on damn step 16 for an hour and a half now and I'm so frustrated I think I'm just gunna go to bed and start again in the morning. Any ideas are welcome

here's a pic of my enemy

 

i'd hate to tell you this man but in this picture from the instructions you provided they are using an impact gun. By using an impact gun this makes removing the strut top nut extremely easy. Since you don't have and impact gun do you
have an electric drill??? (preferably not cordless) If so they have pieces so you can pop a bit on the drill that will attach to your 17mm socket. With the drill or an impact gun you have to use a slow or fast pulsing trigger till the nut comes off slowly. If you don't have either of these tools i'd go buy them if i where you. If you don't really care about your strut, I would grab the center section w/ vice grips or maybe a pipe wrench and w/ the 17mm at the top tap the ratchet with a hammer alomost how an impact would work. i don't think this is gonna work but if i were in your possision thats what i would be doing. Good luck, mario

 

If you have someone with small hands, they can actually hold the strut shaft while you break the nut. If that doesn't work, wrap a towel or piece of rubber around the shaft and use a pair of vice-grips to hold it while you torque it. If you can't get either of those to work, you will need to find someplace to put an impact wrench on it. You can get electric impacts at WalMart for like $25, and most of those are good enough for that (but I wouldn't try using them on strut or control arm bolts ).

 

You can do what I did go buy a cheap 17mm socket get a dremel cut a good size holeout of one side, put it on the nut put a allen wrench in the the top of the strut you will know what I am talking about hold allen wrench turn socket with rachet thats what I did I swapped all four springs out in 2-3 hours by myself.. If you are confused whre the arrow in your picture is pointing where the allen wrench goes you do not have to worry about damangeing the strut shaft by clamping something on it plus it is much easier.I'll send you a picture of my modified socket if you want..and if you ever have to do it again you will have it..

 

Hope this loads and is clear enough for you to see what I was talking about

 

2

 

3... Sorry if they are not the best but I think it shows what I am talking about...

 

if you really find yourself stuck, pm me. i've got a heavy dut impact wrench, and a CO2 tank to run it so it's portable. depending on where in the south bay you are, i might be able to help you out.

 

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00930593000

I use that for suspension installs. Not as cheap as the socket mod though.

 

Trust me if I would have known that Sears had something like that I would have bought it just to have some new tools I might have to check into that tool kit. Actually the scoket I used was from Sears I swear that I try to buy all my tools there. My wife said that tool kit would be a good X-mas present for me so I know one thing I might get...

And yes the socket is cheaper and more creative

 

UPDATE:

I ended up just going to my buddies place, used an impact wrench and got all 4 struts done in about 30 minutes most of which was spent BS'ing and drooling over all the cool tools in his garadge.

Thanks for all the good info fellow i-clubbers.

 

That's the best wqay to do it.

 

so how about some pics of your.... and how is the ride???

 

That set is not a good set for regular ratcheting. Why? Because any top pressure from the ratchet part will cause the ratchet to drop from hooking the socket. Very irritating but for anything that needs to be done straight through its cake. Save your money and invest in real tools. Believe me, I work at Sears Tools and also I own one of those sets.

 

Back to topic:

When Kawshon and I did my springs, it was a pain in the butt. On that part you're having troubles with, you will have to impact or you can torque it down with a socket and ratchet WHILE having someone holding the strut assembly below it. That part took the longest too especially tightening down and getting things right. Took me a few tries to get the spring to sit correctly while I impacted the thing on. Expect it to be around a 4-5 hour install if you have two people and are doing it the first time.