Front shock dust cap question

[Napes]

It's been many years since I removed these from either one of my cars and just wanted to ask what is the best way to remove them. Do large channel locks work, or is there a better method? TIA

Bob Napier

[BillWilliams]

Hey Bob, they just pop off, if not tooooo old, your burly old hands can get them off. Use that old man strength!

Sometimes a screwdriver safely places will pop them off.

[Scott Sislane]

get the tips of your fingers under the lip & pop-'em off.

[Napes]

Thanks, Guys. That was one of those rare and enjoyable times when something was a whole lot easier to do than you think it's going to be. All too often it's the other way around.

Bob Napier

[craaaazzy]

i've got a follow up question to this...

how do you put them back on? when i replaced my suspension, i also installed new strut mounts but it seems like the opening is larger than the old strut mount, making it hard to reinstall the cap.

[BillWilliams]

Get as much as the edge you can seated - prolly about 1/2 of it, then rap the top of it with your burly palm.

It will pop back on

[ncoonen]

i've got a follow up question to this...

how do you put them back on? when i replaced my suspension, i also installed new strut mounts but it seems like the opening is larger than the old strut mount, making it hard to reinstall the cap.

A little dish soap around the rubber lip will help a lot. I wrestled a long time before lubing them with soap and then they slipped right on.

...ned.

[Mike Self]

very different sized opening to accept the polyethelene dust cap--try to force your old black or grey dust cap on, and it'll split. And black caps are NLA.

I've been trying to make adapters to make my caps fit, and so far I've found three different internal diameters on the strut bearings.

I've been focusing my efforts on finding various plastic plumbing pipes and/or fittings that will fit into the well around the upper strut nut, with an outer diameter that will accept the cap. So far I've found a few fittings that will work on two of the three different sizes, but not the third.

When I have found something that will fit all three, look for a column on the subject (talk about an esoteric subject...)

mike

[eurotrash]

Bill, did you say, "prolly"?! HA! Funny guy.

[BillWilliams]

What is wrong with "prolly"?

[HBChris]

I had the same issue, old caps would barely fit and then they split. Are the new caps available and large enough and could be painted to match originals? Or are all NLA?

[BillWilliams]

be cautious painting them, I even used plastic and a rubber paint and the paint still cracked off.

[ought2]

be cautious painting them, I even used plastic and a rubber paint and the paint still cracked off.

Prolly cause you used them there BF channel locks.

[BillWilliams]

Yeah, that is prolly right.

[craaaazzy]

i've got a follow up question to this...

how do you put them back on? when i replaced my suspension, i also installed new strut mounts but it seems like the opening is larger than the old strut mount, making it hard to reinstall the cap.

A little dish soap around the rubber lip will help a lot. I wrestled a long time before lubing them with soap and then they slipped right on.

...ned.

this worked perfectly. popped right in. thx!