Front strut removal from hub/leg

[andrew_baran]

The big caps holding my dampers into the strut are well and truly rusted solid.

My research suggests a pipe wrench on the cap, but it just seems to bend the cap out of shape. I've given up on these struts - they'll never come out.

Has anyone else got a trick to share, to get them out?

[Grrrmachine]

What sort of research have you done?

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ing_Struts

[andrew_baran]

2. If you are changing the shock, unscrew the collar nut. I use a pair of big stilsons here. Lift the insert out and upend the strut to drain out any cooling oil.

That's the bit I'm stuck on

The collar nut is very rusty around the thread, even though the bump stops and the protective cover was in place over it...

[jimbom30cab]

You could try taking them to a garage and offering a large bloke a few quid to do it, they have to come out that way.

[Quaser]

I just broke the cap off and put the wrench on the thread -

[mcbonio]

Had this dilemma recently myself. You need a 'Stilsons pipe wrench'

First, apply lashings of penetrating oil then get a good hold on the end cap with your new 'stilly wrench' and begin tapping on the wrench with a hammer to start it off. It will come loose, easy job if you have the correct wrench.

[daimlerman]

You should get nice new collar nuts with your new inserts.

I find a lump hammer and cold chisel is the way to go!

[andrew_baran]

I bought myself a whopping great pipe wrench the other week - had to do the same job on my 1983 Polo. Very similar system of wet shocks, but the collar nuts on that had flats. They came off no problem.

The E30, which is 7 years younger, is proving much more trouble Pipe wrench is just mauling the collar nut. We did plenty of plusgas, heat, repeat...

Lump hammer and chisel may work. I've got a new pair of collars to go on the car, but i'm worried about how rusty the threads are going to be if i'm having this much trouble removing the old ones.

[daimlerman]

You should find that it's just the collar nut that's rusty,the threads inside will be fine.Once the collar accepts that it has to be removed,they usually give in!

[capnmchl]

You know pipe grips will only work well one way don't you?

[andrew_baran]

Haha, yes thanks.

I'll have one last shot with the pipe wrench. Good to know that i'm going at it the way everyone else has done it...