How the hell am I going to get this out!!!

[Adammcf]

Started fitting the Cup Kit today. Got the rear all done no problems but Im now stuck at the front! As you can see I got the strut out ok but I cant get the top nut undone and when I do it looks like Im not going to be able to get the shock out of the strut.
The piston of the shock looks like it has somehow merged into the top mount and the collar of the shock where it screws into the strut has all merged together as well. Any suggestions! I might just have to take the struts to a garage somewhere with the new springs and shocks and see what they can do.

[Bob_S]

get the blow torch out and burn away the crap see whats there have a go if not give it to someone else my mates dis-astra was like this

[DanThe]

Get some mole grips around the top of the damper mate, and once the springs out wire brush and heat on the collar nut and it may just spin off

[Adammcf]

Ive tried scraping it with the end of a screw driver but it looks like its all merged together!
Just had another thought, - the collar the screws into the strut and holds the shock in place - I take it that this one is beyond help so I'll have to buy a new one for each side to hold the new shocks in place?

[DanThe]

The new dampers usually come with new collar nuts.
Well Bilsteins do anyway

[Adammcf]

It has the nuts for the top of the piston but is there not something that screws into the top of the strut housing that holds the shock in place under it?

[GDBN]

Hi Adam ... the shocks that came with my cup kit had the collars to screw the damper into place.
Don't forget to empty the oil out of the strut too when you get the old damper out (if they are oil filled dampers).
Took me ages to get those old collars off .. and mine were nowhere near as bad as yours.

Giles

[Simon]

Mine were exactly the same on the touring!

You should have undone the top nut when the assembly was still on the car with the car on the gorund, much easier.

As I was fitting a full kit, with new top mounts etc, I used and angle grinder, cut the spring out, grinded some grooves into the damper rod, used some grips on it, and then undone the top nut with a socket.

I then used the angle grinder to cut some grooves into the collar nut, and used a big hammer and chisel to undo it, with plenty of WD40, it came off eventually.

What a butcher!!

[ClemQjeronimo]

had a similar problem. bash it with a hammer until it loosens up. just keep bashing. dont give up. dont stop.

[Geeman]

As I was fitting a full kit, with new top mounts etc, I used and angle grinder, cut the spring out, grinded some grooves into the damper rod, used some grips on it, and then undone the top nut with a socket.

I then used the angle grinder to cut some grooves into the collar nut, and used a big hammer and chisel to undo it, with plenty of WD40, it came off eventually.

Yeeee ha! Ride 'em cowboy!

[Adammcf]

The thought of taking out some of my agression on it with a hammer sounds good but I think I'll just take the struts to a garage and get them to change everything as I dont have a vice or grinder to make things easier.