What tool do I need?

[Mike Spataro]

I am removing the rear springs from a rear strut assembly for a 93 SHO. The spring is compressed and I need remove the strut nut (21 m/m Hex) and must secure the 10 m/m strut rod from turning. The 21 m/m nut is pretty far down in a cavity. Is there a special tool or socket that I can purchase or some technique I can use to remove this nut? My crows foot wrench is too large to fit in the cavity.
Thanks, Mike

 

[jelloslug]

I got an offset boxend wrench from Sears that fit it perfectly.

 

[Mike Spataro]

Thanks

 

[RCM]

A deep 6-point socket and air impact wrench works every time for me.

Russ

Mike Spataro:
I need remove the strut nut (21 m/m Hex) and must secure the 10 m/m strut rod from turning. The 21 m/m nut is pretty far down in a cavity. Is there a special tool or socket that I can purchase or some technique I can use to remove this nut? My crows foot wrench is too large to fit in the cavity.

 

[Off Road SHO]

All this talk about impact wrenches and sockets makes me worry about everybody's safety. Standard chrome plated sockets are not designed for impact wrenches. If you are going to be using the impact a lot, get a set of case hardened sockets. The outer layer of the socket is made out of a very hard steel to withstand the impacts. Hence the name, case hardened. If they made the entire socket out of the hard stuff, it would be too brittle. The case hardening keeps the relatively softer metal of the socket from being beat up and fractured by the nut or bolt.

<Old fart mode off>

Tom

 

[twr]

Are you replacing the strut?? If so use a visegrip's and lockit onto the strut near the top. If you are re using the springs - get the wrench as already suggested.

 

[pjtoledo]

Here's another "poor man's" solution. Got any old style spark plug sockets laying around? For the big plugs,,13/16" ?? 1/2" drive with a hex around the top? If so, put a 10mm 3/8" drive socket on the top of the strut stem. Put the sparkplug socket down over that. Put a 3/8" extension down through the 1/2" hole in the plug socket and into the 10mm socket. Hold the spark plug socket (hexed end) with a wrench, works great. The factory style struts have a 10mm hex top, some aftermarkets have the round with 2 flats type,,need a different socket for those.

The offset boxed end wrench also works, I trimmed some of the lead off for a better fit.

Impacts are even better.

All that lead is for vibration dampening, I whittled a lot of it off

Perry

 

[Mike Spataro]

Thanks Perry,
I was looking at Harbor Freight for a set of metric offset box wrenches and almost placed the order. I found an older spark plug socket that I aquired from my Dad's 49 Chevy (I'm pretty old) that worked like a dream. It was made from a thick piece of sheet metal and it is not your typical heavy walled forged socket. My 10 m/m, 3/8" drive fit through the center and it worked well.
Problem solved, Thanks again. Mike

 

[DHMag]

my strut wrench is a Matco 21mm box/open that has been formed. about a half an inch from the box end, it makes a 90 degree turn, goes up about 3 inches, then makes another 90 degree turn out. as far as removing the strut nut. i use the 21mm wrench, a 10mm socket on a 3/8 -1/2 adapter, a 1/2 rachet, breaker bar, and my ass. on the concrete, i setup up my rachet and breaker bar on the stem nut, so that itll force onto the ground. then i sit on the spring/strut assembly, and commence to manhandle the wrench. yeah, it wears me out, hurts my ass, but hey, it works.