Police mounts rear struts

[shocar]

I have 93 atx that has what I am thinking is the police suspension package. The rear struts has no room to get a crows foot wrench in the space like the manual says. There is a metal doughnut shape ring about an inch think that fits in around the top nut. Is there a special tool to get this off or am I just missing something here

 

[pjtoledo]

that big metal ring is a chunk of lead. It's purpose is to absorb vibrations.
It's common to SHOs and Slos.
Try whittling away at the lead to make room for a deep offset box wrench. Don't inhale.
Another method is to use a spark plug style socket (they have wrench flats) and run a 3/8 sockey thru the big socket, holding the big socket with a wrench.
the big socket needs to be 1/2" drive, with a throat big enough to pass a 3/8" extension thru.


Perry

 

[SHOtimer]

I took it to my mechanic friend, he used an impact to get the bolt off....I didn't put that piece of crap back on with my new struts.

Doug

 

[shocar]

Perry, I looked it over this morning and your right, if you take a spark plug socket and use a 1/4 inch sock set with a long extension with a 10 socket put on once you run it through the spark plug socket you can make it work. I just need to buy a longer 1/4 inch extension. Thanks for the help.

 

[GeneSHO]

that big metal ring is a chunk of lead. It's purpose is to absorb vibrations.
It's common to SHOs and Slos.
Perry

This is the big turd of washer that gave me headaches also when replacing the struts on my '93.

For one strut, I ended up using my trusty sawzall to cut the rod off.

One strut is totally bagged.

 

[SHOtime2511]

Police mounts are standard mounts painted blue most of the time.

 

[GR8WYT]

Mmm, Sawzall...

Good action.

 

[SHObill]

The only proper way to remove & INSTALL the strut to mount is the use of an impact! If you don't use an impact to tighten the nut, you can never get it tight enough to squeeze the large rubber grommet & the mount will fail sooner! Over time & abuse the rubber grommet does shrink & ware leading to play about the steel insert & grommet leading to noise & failure.