Tips or Tricks for Removing Front Strut Tube Nut

[MitchaPaLoOza88]

The nut holding the damper tube in is pretty cruddy and probably original. Any tricks to getting this off?

 

I have oxy I was thinking heat and wrench since i'm replacing anyways or do people just cut it off

[Mike87]

Large pair of channel locks or a large pipe wrench.

[Chris_B]

Ditto channel locks or pipe wrench, but use a BFH (at least a 6 lbs baby sledge hammer) to impact the tool, to knock the nut loose. 

[TobyB]

Heat and a pipe wrench, here.

 

If you hit it with a  chisel at an angle, the impact often does it, too.

 

If you DO manage to save the nuts, don't toss them- they're getting hard to find.

 

t

 

[M3M3]

Yup.  Heat and a pipe wrench.

[Buckeye]

Use dremel with cut-off wheel and chisel should all other procedure fails 

[MitchaPaLoOza88]

Ok i guess ill have to cut it. I got it red hot and threw my weight on it, while hitting it with the air hammer and almost ripping my industrial vise of the bench.

 

Or I just dont weigh enough....

[Buckeye]

Light axial cut on thread section of cap and bust it with chisel

[MitchaPaLoOza88]

12 minutes ago, Buckeye said:

Light axial cut on thread section of cap and bust it with chisel

Worked.

 

Now how about getting the actual damper tube out?

[MitchaPaLoOza88]

Nvm got it but in case this helps anyone else. You will need a new wrench after

 

[2002spaceodyssey]

Pipe wrench and Mapp gas to loosen nut.

Slide hammer with vice grips attached to get tube out.

 

 

[Mike Self]

And put some anti-seize or wheel bearing grease on the new one before inserting.  The future owner will thank you!

 

mike

[AustrianVespaGuy]

Glad you got it! FWIW, probably my two highest return-on-investment tools in my whole garage are the MAP torch and my good ball joint separator!

[MitchaPaLoOza88]

On 4/18/2020 at 2:49 PM, AustrianVespaGuy said:

Glad you got it! FWIW, probably my two highest return-on-investment tools in my whole garage are the MAP torch and my good ball joint separator!

Same here except I’ll throw my welder in the mix. Removed a lot of snapped bolts by welding a nut to the stud

[MitchaPaLoOza88]

On 4/17/2020 at 10:50 PM, 2002spaceodyssey said:

Pipe wrench and Mapp gas to loosen nut.

Slide hammer with vice grips attached to get tube out.

 

 

I like that slide wrench that’s a pretty universal looking tool.

 

i don’t think it would have been enough in this case though. Took about 30 full swing whacks with an 8lb sledge before it finally came out