'96 Rear Strut Issue

[nevanerviss]

OK, so I bought new struts for my '96, and in taking off the stabilizer bar end links, there is a nut/bolt that are attached to the strut and if you don't hold the center of the bolt with an Allen wrnch, the damned nut will spin all day long, but won't come off... Anyways, the center of the bolt (where the Allen wrench goes) is now stripped so the damned thing won't come off AT ALL...

My question is, how can I get the damned thing off so that i can changed my struts which desperately need to be changed?? I'm not above replacing the end links as well, i just wondered how i can get the frickin thing off without killing myself... I have no rotary tool...

[Hajoca]

Hacksaw a slot in that nut and strut shaft if you need. Your new strut should have a new nut.

[ASG14]

Yup, hack saw it off. I got stupid and drilled mine out, killing 2 drill bits, haha.

And you will definatley need to replace it.

[nevanerviss]

Thanks a lot guys... For clairification, the nut/bolt is on the end link, so if I saw the damned thing off, and get new end links, with the end links come with new bolt/nuts? I care very little about destroying the strut trying to take it off the car, cause they're getting replaced anyway, but my concern is the end link nut/bolt combo...

[Hajoca]

Replace it.

[WhiteRabbit]

if you get them from toyota they dont come with new nuts but from ebay or autozone they will

theyre ~$80 each at toyota fyi and ~$50 for both on ebay

not a major part so why not go the cheap way out if you can?

[Hajoca]

The stud (threaded protion) is damaged, then it cannot be tightened and hold if it is damaged from removal. Even with new nut, to torque properly you need to hold that still.

Mine came loose because I put in a thicker swaybar, and had to loctite it in place.

[nevanerviss]

Thanks again fellas... Rabbit, I think that was the answer I was looking for, although ASG gave me the other answer I was looking for and Hajoca filled in the blanks... Thanks a lot!!! I'll get new end links off eGay and have fun destroying the old one to get it off the car... (Now, where'd I put those blasting caps??)

[ASG14]

BWA HAHAHA! BTW, for the next time, blast them with PB Blaster for a couple hours before you try to loosen them. Everytime I have used PB Blaster, they have come off without much issue.

[eyeball96]

^^^+10 on Adams suggestion! PB blaster is the bomb!! Works great.