Front suspension damper retaining nut
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Topic author - Posts: 10
- Joined: 09/08/21 18:00
Front suspension damper retaining nut
I'm struggling to undo the large octagonal 'nut' that holds the suspension damper in the strut. It's about 50mm across flats (digital caliper measures 50.8mm). I've tried heating with a blowtorch but no joy and I stopped before it got too hot as I was concerned about the damper being pressurised. An adjustable spanner is useless as it only bears on two of the 8 sides and using a pipe wrench (Stilsons) just chews up the edges which is not good as I expect finding a new nut(s) would be next to impossible.
There's a Toyota SST shown in the BGB (photo attached) but I doubt anyone has one of those?
Anyone out there know of a tool I can buy that will do the job without chewing up the nut? Any help appreciated.
GaryB
There's a Toyota SST shown in the BGB (photo attached) but I doubt anyone has one of those?
Anyone out there know of a tool I can buy that will do the job without chewing up the nut? Any help appreciated.
GaryB
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Re: Front suspension damper retaining nut
Not all the struts are rebuildable, but I don't know if the non rebuildable ones have the hex.
Have you tried gripping the hex in the vice and rotating the housing ? That way you can grip two flats of the hex with less chance of damage.
If you have a welder it wouldn't be difficult to make copy of the sst with a bit of plate and strips of flat bar welded on to make up the hex.
Somewhere I have a copy of a pictorial article on dismantling the struts, I'll track it down and upload it to Know Your 2 ASAP.
Have you tried gripping the hex in the vice and rotating the housing ? That way you can grip two flats of the hex with less chance of damage.
If you have a welder it wouldn't be difficult to make copy of the sst with a bit of plate and strips of flat bar welded on to make up the hex.
Somewhere I have a copy of a pictorial article on dismantling the struts, I'll track it down and upload it to Know Your 2 ASAP.
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Topic author - Posts: 10
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Re: Front suspension damper retaining nut
Thanks Jimi
I didn't realise some were non rebuildable, I assumed they were all the same.
If it is that type then I'll need to re-think it. I want to keep it as original as possible so not interested in fitting racing style struts/coilovers.
I did try the vice method but had no joy with that either.
Good idea about welding up strips of flat bar, I have a welder so that's a good option.
Gary
I didn't realise some were non rebuildable, I assumed they were all the same.
If it is that type then I'll need to re-think it. I want to keep it as original as possible so not interested in fitting racing style struts/coilovers.
I did try the vice method but had no joy with that either.
Good idea about welding up strips of flat bar, I have a welder so that's a good option.
Gary
Re: Front suspension damper retaining nut
Had the same problem on a Lotus. Replacement struts I think
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Topic author - Posts: 10
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Re: Front suspension damper retaining nut
So if I do need replacement struts, any recommendations seeing that I want to keep it as stock as possible?
Lots of used ones from the breakers but they're likely to be as bad or worse than mine.
Lots of used ones from the breakers but they're likely to be as bad or worse than mine.
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Re: Front suspension damper retaining nut
Hello Gary, do you know if this nut is the same one as on the MkIIs? Seems like they're both a 50mm (flat to flat) octagonal nut.
I had a similar issue to you but with my MkII. I ended up designing a tool and had it lasered/welded up at work which ended up doing the trick (but involved a lot of heat, hammering and swearing!).
However, during my research I did find this tool... for a 240Z. I can't confirm it works as I haven't used it, but it looks right (you'd have to order it from the states).
https://zcardepot.com/products/strut-gl ... -260z-280z
Maybe this helps?
I had a similar issue to you but with my MkII. I ended up designing a tool and had it lasered/welded up at work which ended up doing the trick (but involved a lot of heat, hammering and swearing!).
However, during my research I did find this tool... for a 240Z. I can't confirm it works as I haven't used it, but it looks right (you'd have to order it from the states).
https://zcardepot.com/products/strut-gl ... -260z-280z
Maybe this helps?
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Re: Front suspension damper retaining nut
If it is 50mm, then given the forces being applied I wouldn't rely on an open ended spanner not to slip and round the hex
Better with what I know as a flogging spanner, not that cheap but available on Amazon UK and you can beat the living sh*t out of it
Better with what I know as a flogging spanner, not that cheap but available on Amazon UK and you can beat the living sh*t out of it
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Topic author - Posts: 10
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Re: Front suspension damper retaining nut
Thanks MGBENGMGBENG wrote: ↑11/08/21 22:31 Hello Gary, do you know if this nut is the same one as on the MkIIs? Seems like they're both a 50mm (flat to flat) octagonal nut.
I had a similar issue to you but with my MkII. I ended up designing a tool and had it lasered/welded up at work which ended up doing the trick (but involved a lot of heat, hammering and swearing!).
However, during my research I did find this tool... for a 240Z. I can't confirm it works as I haven't used it, but it looks right (you'd have to order it from the states).
https://zcardepot.com/products/strut-gl ... -260z-280z
Maybe this helps?
I don't know if it is the same as the MKII but that tool looks like an option.
And I'm good at hammering and swearing so could be something to look forward to
Gary
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Topic author - Posts: 10
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Re: Front suspension damper retaining nut
Hi Jimi
Thanks for finding that tool, it looks like a good option but will a 50mm bi-hex shape fit on an 50mm (AF) octagon? I'll need to do some maths or draw it out in CAD. If it does then it's definitely worth a punt at that price.
Gary
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Re: Front suspension damper retaining nut
forgot the strut was an octagon probably easier to make one from flat bar, a square with the corners filled would work.
I found the article on rebuilding struts, I'll try and get it in KY2 today.
I found the article on rebuilding struts, I'll try and get it in KY2 today.
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Topic author - Posts: 10
- Joined: 09/08/21 18:00
Re: Front suspension damper retaining nut
Thanks Jimi
Might have another go at the 'nut in vice' method and try a bit more heat!
Dr Hess wasn't wrong when he said it's "probably the hardest part of the whole procedure".
Might have another go at the 'nut in vice' method and try a bit more heat!
Dr Hess wasn't wrong when he said it's "probably the hardest part of the whole procedure".
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Topic author - Posts: 10
- Joined: 09/08/21 18:00
Re: Front suspension damper retaining nut
Success!
I made a tool from a piece of flat bar with 8 edge pieces welded on. I used a 3D printed former to get the edge pieces accurately aligned then clamped and welded them in place. My welding isn't pretty but the tool worked a treat and with a bit of hammering with a copper hammer, the nut was freed.
It appears to be a type of sealed unit as there was an escape of pressurised gas when I loosened the nut and there is fluid inside the strut tube. What I don't know is whether replacement damper inserts can be fitted into this type of strut. Some of the YouTube MK1 videos I've seen do look like new dampers have been fitted but it's not totally clear whether the struts are the same as mine.
The journey continues........
GaryB
I made a tool from a piece of flat bar with 8 edge pieces welded on. I used a 3D printed former to get the edge pieces accurately aligned then clamped and welded them in place. My welding isn't pretty but the tool worked a treat and with a bit of hammering with a copper hammer, the nut was freed.
It appears to be a type of sealed unit as there was an escape of pressurised gas when I loosened the nut and there is fluid inside the strut tube. What I don't know is whether replacement damper inserts can be fitted into this type of strut. Some of the YouTube MK1 videos I've seen do look like new dampers have been fitted but it's not totally clear whether the struts are the same as mine.
The journey continues........
GaryB