Stupid strut nut: install on bilstein 5100?

[LaxCoachT]

Hi guys...

Struggling to get the 15mm strut nut installed on a new set of 5100's.
I'm reusing the top strut mount and insulator, and the nut is really recessed in the mount. I can't grab it with anything (wrench, pliers, needle nose, etc) and hold the top 6mm flats on the strut shaft at the same time.

Seems like the nut has a locking peen, pretty difficult to turn once the thread is nearly fully engaged. Tried the impact but the shaft just spins.

I've been looking for one of the cutaway sockets but 15mm is smaller than anything I've found online (schwaben etc)

I replacing the whole suspension with Moog upper/lower arms & springs, has been pretty easy until now...
Nothing on YT, seems like every clip I've seen skips over assembling the struts...

What's the trick?

Ted

 

[Fless]

I've never done one of these, but something like the Lisle 63400 tool might work. Someone with experience will contribute, I'm sure.

 

[swathdiver]

Struggling to get the 15mm strut nut installed on a new set of 5100's.

Well Ted, you obviously didn't read my post when I did this back in 2021! LOL

Go underneath the top mount and through the coil spring hold onto that shaft with a pair of vise grips (with leather to keep from marring up the shaft) and then you can torque it down to 44 foot pounds. If your insulator is in good shape, it will be a pain to fold/roll out of the way to get the vise grips in there.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[LaxCoachT]

Thanks for the tips...took a look at that thread Swath, I'm trying not to rip he boot, want to keep the new england salt off things as much as I can

I think the Lisle 20400 is what I need. Calling my parts guy tomorrow to see if he can get one.

 

[PatDTN]

I bought a pass through socket set for that. Example of pass through set on Amazon

 

[swathdiver]

Thanks for the tips...took a look at that thread Swath, I'm trying not to rip he boot, want to keep the new england salt off things as much as I can

I think the Lisle 20400 is what I need. Calling my parts guy tomorrow to see if he can get one.

I like that better!

 

[Just Fishing]

one of mine fought me.
I ended up allowing the spring to have a little more pressure pushing up on the plate than I would have liked, then hit it with the air impact to zip it off.

I had to slowly reduce clamping on the springs while I did it.
Singing the "Doing some sketchy shit" song.

I aimed the spring in a somewhat safe direction, and away from my shingles...
I stayed away from the bottom of the strut while doing it.


The correct tool sounds much safer.

 

[PatDTN]

one of mine fought me.
I ended up allowing the spring to have a little more pressure pushing up on the plate than I would have liked, then hit it with the air impact to zip it off.

I had to slowly reduce clamping on the springs while I did it.
Singing the "Doing some sketchy shit" song.

I aimed the spring in a somewhat safe direction, and away from my shingles...
I stayed away from the bottom of the strut while doing it.


The correct tool sounds much safer.

Yeah I put my big impact wrench to work on one of mine. I learned the shaft unscrews part way down the shaft.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Hi guys...

Struggling to get the 15mm strut nut installed on a new set of 5100's.
I'm reusing the top strut mount and insulator, and the nut is really recessed in the mount. I can't grab it with anything (wrench, pliers, needle nose, etc) and hold the top 6mm flats on the strut shaft at the same time.

Seems like the nut has a locking peen, pretty difficult to turn once the thread is nearly fully engaged. Tried the impact but the shaft just spins.

I've been looking for one of the cutaway sockets but 15mm is smaller than anything I've found online (schwaben etc)

I replacing the whole suspension with Moog upper/lower arms & springs, has been pretty easy until now...
Nothing on YT, seems like every clip I've seen skips over assembling the struts...

What's the trick?

Ted


View attachment 375477View attachment 375478

@LaxCoachT I ended up grabbing the top with vise grips and using an open ended wrench and going around it at an angle. Certainly wasn’t the best method, I’d do what the other guy said lol

 

[jz57]

Should be an easy job. Using an offset wrench and a crescent wrench to get job done.

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