Trouble dismantling a front strut

[clarko74]

I'm taking my old struts apart and have a problem with one of them. I compressed the springs, undid the top nut then undid the spring compressors but nothing happened, the spring was still compressed and it was still all in one piece, the top mount/spring plate must have seized onto the shock. I put the spring compressors back on pretty sharpish as it could let go at any moment.

This happened last weekend. I put the top nut back on loosely, sprayed the whole lot with wd40 and left it for a week. I've just been out to check it and it's still seized tight, I've tried whacking the top of the shock to release it and levering the top mount and top spring plate all without success. I don't want to go too mad with it as I'm aware that the spring is still compressed.

So I'm not sure how to go about getting this off. Any ideas?

[kevo]

put the spring compressors on and keep them on! compress the spring then undo the nut almost totally and with the spring compressors on give them a good clout with a metal hammer (with a bit of common sense of course). it'll come off easily enough then undo the nut the rest of the way, you don't need to de compress the springs until you're reassembling it for the final time.
cheers
Kev

[DanThe]

There is not that much energy in an E30 spring on the strut (unless you have extra short dampers) I dont even bother compressing them to remove anymore, just impact the top nut off with my foot on the spring.
Like Kevo says though a couple of threads will hold it on, id get the gas axe on the top plate

[clarko74]

They are B6's with mtec springs, the seized one s about 40mm shorter than the other uncompressed spring so there could be a fair amount of energy in there.

If I had a gas axe I would give it a go, might have to give the hammer another bash...

[Theo]

There is not that much energy in an E30 spring on the strut (unless you have extra short dampers) I dont even bother compressing them to remove anymore, just impact the top nut off with my foot on the spring.
Like Kevo says though a couple of threads will hold it on, id get the gas axe on the top plate

+1

Spring compressors are a waste of time on e30 struts.

[Simon13]

Well you all must be using 60mm ghetto springs, i use them always.

[Topblag]

Well you all must be using 60mm ghetto springs, i use them always.

+1

[e30topless]

I only use them on assembly !

[clarko74]

Still can't get this b*stard thing apart, I've mounted the strut back in the car to give it a solid mounting (with the top nut on but undone slightly) and twatted the top of the damper a few times with a very big hammer and it's still resisting.

The springs are mtech ones, here's the one from the other side:

[e30topless]

you got any pics of the offending strut ?

[clarko74]

Here it is, the top nut is on but not done up tight (there's a couple of mm gap between the top mount and nut):



I tried to lever the top mount off the spring plate, but it just bent the spring plate downwards:



Also tried a fork ball joint splitter between the spring plate and top mount without success:



The top of the strut is pretty rusty but the shock retaining nuts look ok:

[clarko74]

This is partially sorted now. I went to pick my rear beam up from Ant yesterday and took the strut to see if he could do anything with it. Ant and Ben struggled with for a while and eventually resorted to undoing the damper collar with the spring still in position. This got it apart and safe, I've just got to get the top mount and spring seat off the damper now, a grinder should sort them out.

Thanks very much to Ant and Ben for their impressive fragging abilities, much obliged.

[Ant]

Welcome dude


I think the indeed race of the top mount gearing has been peened over slightly on that one, hence the top hat being rivetted in place .

bigger hammer ??

[seanmul]

wow the salt over there does a hell of an amount of damage over the years.