While doing a spring install, I somehow managed to strip the allen nut that holds the shock still while you loosen the assembly. What are my options?


I guess I could go buy a new assembly, but that would be costly. Any others?? I need to find a solution today.


Thanks
Jeff

 

you may try in impact wrench. It may break the nut loose w/o having to hold down the center piston. Probably not great for the shock but since you stripped the bolt anyway,...

 

There is a nut breaker (sounds really bad huh) available it looks like a pipe tubing cutter. Most of the tool dealers carry them. And the is always the smoke wrench (cutting torch)

 

Well, I just ordered some Koni Sports for the front. But I will still need to get the OEM backing plate off. I'll just destroy it.

 

 

heat up the bolt make it cherry red and get a dremel and cut it out.

 

This happened to me on my last car. This is what I did:

Since I was replacing my shocks w/ aftermarket shocks, I did not need to keep the stock shocks. I bought a pair of locking pliers, which you can set how tight/small a grip you want, and then I locked them on the part of the shock that rotates w/ the bolt. I then held that while unbolting the top bolt.

This scratches up the shock where you grip it w/ the pliers, but if you are replacing your shocks anyways, I think its a good method to get the bolt off.

hope this helps...
mike

 

vice grips will do the job.

i did the same thing on my integra.

 

Yea, thats what I plan on doing. Just messing up the rod on the shock with some Vice Grips.

 

The allen is a 5mm. Try to pound in a slightly bigger standard size that will grab and you should be able to remove it that way. Sort of like re-tapping stripped threads