Front strut issues

[wiccanferret]

I have had SO many suspension problems with this car, but here's another...

The strut insert keeps coming out of the housing on the passenger side. The big weird nut that holds it in seems to be backing off. I've been hand tightening it and beating it with a flat-head screwdriver to try and get it wedged in there because I don't want to destroy the alignment and I really don't know what I'd do with it if I got it out. It's just round with two little notches...I couldn't find anything to tighten it with before, and I still can't think of anything now.

Any solutions? Preferrably something I can do by jacking it up by the kunckle and through the spring?

[toyomoho]

Does the car have replaceable strut inserts? No having seen this setup I am guessing it requires a wrench having two tangs that will engage both holes and allow you to apply some torque to the nut. Try a tool house, auto parts store. When you do go to tighten it, apply some thread locking compound to any exposed threads. Remember, the spring is trying to pull the strut out of its housing.

[wiccanferret]

Remember, the spring is trying to pull the strut out of its housing.

And an excellent job it does, too. I didn't know such a wrench existed...I've been looking for something like that but haven't found anything. Do you know if there's a technical name for it that I just don't know?

[toyomoho]

I think it is called a pin spanner. The link below has a photo of one. Remember, Snap-On tools are at the top end of tool pricing. Other companies should make such a tool, maybe even Sears. Make sure you get the right pin diameter for the holes in the nut, this can vary. The wrenches are also used on boats fuel and water caps, machine flanges, etc.

You might check with a shock absorber dealer, auto parts house, tool house, on line shock and auto parts websites. You have a replaceable strut. Meaning you need only replace the strut and not the complete lower end of the assembly. Individuals such as TN members buy these types of struts and replace them themselves all the time. They usually upgrade to some kind of performance type strut. As such they would need a tool to do the job and the tool should be very common.

Don’t let the nut completly come out or the strut assembly could come apart. If all else fails use a small diameter punch and a good size hammer.

The link is from the on-line Snap-On tool catalog.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

[wiccanferret]

OH MY GOD YOU ARE AWESOME!

I have been looking for this information for months and finally someone knows! I've emailed Harbor Freight and asked every parts house in the phonebook...

Originally Posted by toyomoho

I think it is called a pin spanner. The link below has a photo of one. Remember, Snap-On tools are at the top end of tool pricing. Other companies should make such a tool, maybe even Sears. Make sure you get the right pin diameter for the holes in the nut, this can vary. The wrenches are also used on boats fuel and water caps, machine flanges, etc.

You might check with a shock absorber dealer, auto parts house, tool house, on line shock and auto parts websites. You have a replaceable strut. Meaning you need only replace the strut and not the complete lower end of the assembly. Individuals such as TN members buy these types of struts and replace them themselves all the time. They usually upgrade to some kind of performance type strut. As such they would need a tool to do the job and the tool should be very common.

Don’t let the nut completly come out or the strut assembly could come apart. If all else fails use a small diameter punch and a good size hammer.

The link is from the on-line Snap-On tool catalog.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog