confirmed - have serviceable struts - but how to unscrew strut housing?!!

[jtu100]

Ok, I've had it confirmed that I have serviceable struts, and I have bought at the front pair of KYB 365088 cartridges and a spring compressor.

But I have now realised I have no idea how to get the 8-sided nut on/off the top of the of the strut housing. It is about 55mm diameter and no wrench/spanner I know will fit on that.

What tool should I use for this?

Also do I need a special vise to hold the strut still while I use [insert tool name here] to undo the nut?

Lastly, how tight is this nut? I am hoping not too tight as I wont be able to get much torque on it I suspect.

[jtu100]

Also, is it easier to undo the strut housing nut while the strut assembly is still attached to the car?

Obviously I would need to attach the spring compressors whilst the assembly was still mounted to the car, otherwise the spring will fly off when I try to remove the assembly from the car...

[atobe]

you take out the whole strut/spring assembly as a whole... then you put on the spring compressor compress the spring.. that'll allow you to take off the top strut mount.. then you slowly/safely let out the spring with the spring compressor.. the strut mount willt take out your head if you don't have a spring compressor. then you take out the spring which would give you access to that big nut to remove the insert. then you do the whole thing in reverse...

http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_2882/article.html read this first give you an idea for what you'r about to do

[jtu100]

That guide only shows the springs being replaced, not the inserts being replaced which is what I'm doing.

I have also read 3 other guides (admittedly not for camrys) saying to loosen the top piston nut as the first step before you start the rest of the process. I can understand this because otherwise according the to the Toyota Service Manuals I need all sorts of SSTs to hold the suspension support whilst I undo the nut etc. Also need a vice which I dont have.

I fully realise how dangerous the spring is... I will be very careful dont worry!

[jtu100]

Hmmm, I just had a go at removing the nuts on the steering knuckle.

Couldn't budge them. Was using a regular sized socket wrench. I could also see red paint on the bolt which presumably is some sort of glue. The service manual says these nuts are done up with 2200kg/cm of torque.

Presumably I'm going to need a massive (0.5M?) breaker bar to get these nuts off?

Do I need to reapply the adhesive when I put the bolts back on or is that overkill?

[atobe]

just re-torque it to spec and put some anti-sieze on them. i would say... have someone step on the strut as you try to turn the nut

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by jtu100

But I have now realised I have no idea how to get the 8-sided nut on/off the top of the of the strut housing. It is about 55mm diameter and no wrench/spanner I know will fit on that.

Plumbers pipe wrench... careful putting it back on that you don't scratch the new strut piston.

-Charlie

[jtu100]

I do not have the torque spec in the Toyota Service manual as it does not show a serviceable strut in the manual!

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by jtu100

I do not have the torque spec in the Toyota Service manual as it does not show a serviceable strut in the manual!

Just tighten it up as much as you can.

-Charlie

[Tom 2000]

Originally Posted by white90dx

Plumbers pipe wrench... careful putting it back on that you don't scratch the new strut piston.

-Charlie

That's what I used also.