RE: stuck strut caps 87 5000

["Iain Atkinson (ETL)" <iain.atkinson@etl.ericsson.se>]

Did mine recently on the Coupe Q, I used a large pair of slip joint pliers with a pair of mole grips squeezing them tight and a 14 inch piece of pipe on the plier handles. May sound heath robinson, but it did work eventually along with tons of WD40.

HTH

Iain

		-----Original Message-----
		From:	kolson@statestreet.com [mailto:kolson@statestreet.com]
		Sent:	15 July 1999 18:26
		To:	quattro@audifans.com
		Subject:	re: stuck strut caps 87 5000

		     I'm assuming you already have the top nut and the mount off and you 
		     are talking abount the cap that holds the strut cartridge in the 
		     housing.
		     
		     I had the same problem with a 93 90, but I had the housing out of the 
		     car in a vise and used a pipe wrench. I cut a small notch in the side 
		     of the cap perpendicular to the threads. My struts came with a new cap 
		     so I wasn't worried about cutting it.
		     
		     I used a Dremel but a hacksaw blade should work as well. The notch 
		     loosened the caps grip on the threads enough to get them to move and 
		     also allowed better penetration of the WD-40. The notch was only the 
		     thickness of one blade and didn't affect the reinstallation of the new 
		     cap. If you stop the cut before it reaches the spot where the tool is 
		     inserted, you should still be able to use the tool to loosen it.
		     
		     Be careful not to ruin the housing threads or you will have a bigger 
		     problem. Good luck!
		     
		     Keith