i'm trying to put on my KYB's but the two nuts on the bottom of the struts wont loosen up, i've tried a catalyst to loosen them but it doesn't work, guy at Midas says they might need to use a blow torch to loosen them or cut them off, is there any other way of loosening these things?

 

If you are talking about the two lower strut mount bolts...those are on there tight if they have never been taken apart before. On my '95 they came off with a little brute force but they came off. All I can suggest is a good penetrate spray and wait. Others might suggest heat or even cutting the bolts off...

 

you need a high quality socket (use 6 point, not 12) not 'el cheapo brand. and maybe a breaker bar.

 

19mm 6 point 1/2 inch drive socket and a breaker bar about 2-3 feet long. That usually snaps them loose.

Or an impact gun.

 

do i need to change the bolts afterwards or can i use them again?

 

use them again. torque them to 84 ft lbs

 

You could use them again but it's going to be a function of whether you distort them in the removal process. You'll be able to tell if you twisted the shaft or rounded the head during removal. Unless you're the Incredible Hulk, I doubt you'll apply that much pressure with just a breaker bar. An impact wrench is best for removal. I'm not sure what catalyst you used but I swear by PB Blaster. Exhaust, suspension, brakes and so on, all loosen up pretty quick after a couple shots of this stuff.

Any friends with impact wrenches? Rent one from a local tool rental?

Good luck.

 

i did use PB Blaster, i sprayed it on, waited for 20 minutes, then i sprayed it on a again and waited for a little bit more, i tried tapping it with a hammer and punch, i basically did everything that was written in the Haynes book, it just doesn't loosen up.

 

Iron Lung did my struts for me this week, he was struggling pretty bad to get them loose, but he got a breaker bar and they loosen right up. fyi, when u go to get the spring off, make sure niether end is pointed at anything, wish i could had a pic of matts face when my spring shot stuff across the room

 

dang dude, gotta be carefull with those things, dont wanna see a headline that says "Spring Break Massacre".

 

haha, its even spring break for me naw, got lucky the bricks were nice enough to save my foot

 

There's no big bolt like those that won't either come off or snap off with

Liquid wrench(or equiv) + Mapp or propane torch Heat + tapping + More liquid wrench + 2-3' 1/2 inch breaker bar with another 2-3 foot steel pipe on the end.

-RMB

 

Hrm use some physics man. Just grap a 2-3 foot pipe, slip it over the wrench handle and apply some force. Leverage rocks.

 

Errr...righty tighty, lefty loosy.

 

Yeah thats some ****. I stood on one end of mine while my friend with the impact wrench had his feet on the other end. It gave a little jolt when it came loose, cool actually

 

Sorry to flame here man but that's so ridiculously stupid I can't believe it. Nobody should ever try this. Borrow some spring compressors FOR FREE, from Auto Zone or similar. There's nothing cool/funny/innovative about doing this without the right tools when you don't have to pay for them and failure to use them could result in serious injury or even death.

 

aight people, i finally got the bolts out (i used a metal pipe) and got the two front struts on, i'm dead tired right now so i'm going to leave the rear ones for sunday.