[s-cars] Stripped hex head on Koni Strut! Any help?

[jpb3]

Thanks to all those that replied on this.  Impact wrench and 6 pt socket
proved to work both loosening and tightening the nut.

The new 2B bearing is noiseless, so the operation was successful on all
fronts!

John B

On 5/17/06, Stott Hare <stott at gwi.net> wrote:
>
>  John,
>
> It's more one or the other.  An impact wrench will usually get the nut
> off, strut be damned, but you might want to put a permanent marker mark on
> the strut shaft and have someone watch it while you blast off the nut.  The
> idea behind the hex hoel was to prevent shaft spin and seal damage.  Nothing
> you can do about it unless you clamp the top of the strut tube (some place
> high enough that it isn't normally compressed inside the strut insert) and
> prevent the spin.
>
> If you're using the triple square to hold the strut tube from spinning,
> you will want you use hand tools and smooth torque to remove the nut.
> Anything else increases the chance the triple square is just going to strip
> as well.
>
>
> -Stott
>
>
> jpb3 wrote:
>
> Thanks for the tip Scott, I think I am going this route first in
> conjunction with a impact wrench.
>
> john B
>
>
> On 5/16/06, Stott Hare <stott at gwi.net> wrote:
> >
> > Get yourself a quality "triple square" socket, as used on inner cv
> > bolts.  The 8mm size can be hammered into the 6mm hex hole, and provide
> > 12 gripping points.  After that your manta is smooth, hand torque.  I
> > would suggest once you have disassembly complete you replace the shock.
> > If you really get stuck and completely strip out the hole, you can
> > sometimes get a vice grip on the shaft between spring coils.  I would
> > suggest as high as possible, if you intended on keeping the shock in
> > service.
> >
> > Stott Hare
> > 95 S6A
> >
> > jpb3 wrote:
> >
> > >All,
> > >Unfortunately the hex portion on top of the Koni strut has been pretty
> > much
> > >stripped away and I need to hold it so I can R&R the 2B spherical
> > bearing.
> > >I was using a 6mm Craftsman hex socket, the same used to install the
> > >suspension system initially but it seems as though the metal used in
> > the
> > >strut is pretty soft.  I started rounding it out when I tried to
> > tighten it
> > >up to see if it cured the noise, it turns out that 2B just sent me a
> > new
> > >bearing assembly b/c that did not work.  I stopped tightening it as
> > soon as
> > >it started slipping but when I went to loosen it it was already too
> > late and
> > >the hard metal of the socket just chewed through the strut.
> > >
> > >I do not want to purchase a new strut(or 2) so does anyone have a
> > suggestion
> > >on how I can hold this thing in both directions? ( ie...loosening and
> > >tightening) I have visited Sears tool dept and most extractors only
> > "bite"
> > >to remove such a problem and do not grip for the tightening portion.  I
> > have
> > >considered welding a nut on top of the strut but forsee problems with
> > that
> > >solution as I only have a stick welder and it's not too
> > precise!  Gripping
> > >the shaft of the strut seems improbable as it would lead to a scored
> > strut
> > >and seal failure I would think.  Any suggestions out there?  TIA
> > >
> > >John B
> > >_______________________________________________
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> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>