I just replaced the strut mount and I got the squeaking sound of a bad strut bearing. I took the strut and spring off to replace and I cannot get the strut mount (sometimes called the insulator) off. The top nut comes off, but the mount is stuck. The flat part of the mount that fits over the flat part of the strut is spun around and is stuck on the threads.

I am assuming the strut is shot as the threads are pretty stripped. Any ideas on getting the thing off? I've tried holding the strut with a pair of 16" channel locks and that did not work. tried prying it off with a big screwdriver and no luck. My next thought is to get a recriprocating saw and cut the post off.

Any ideas are welcome

 

The keyed hole that the struts shaft fits into has spun around. I've seen that happen a few times. If you turn the mount to the left it will slowly unscrew and climb up the threads of the strut shaft. Make sure you have the spring preload off, do this in a wall mounted spring compressor for safety. If the mount isn't that chewed up, once you spin it and get what once was a keyway lined up, it may just come off. If you grab the strut's shaft with a vise grip you will ruin the strut. If your careful, you can still save the strut, provided the threads don't get messed up.

If you know a local repair shop, gas station or body shop with a wall mounted spring compressor, $20 bucks will probably get the job done correctly, saving the strut.

 

Thanks for the response. I will try that. I tried to get the mount to twist with the threads, but it was not budging. I was also using the spring compressor from Autozone, so I may not have been as aggressive.

The threads on the strut look pretty shot already. That's probably how it got twisted in the first place.

Thanks again.

 

I would hold the top of the strut with pliers (flat part) and make it not move by arresting it against the hat bolts (those 3 bolts). Then I would work on the strut bolt that way the strut is not spinning while you are trying to remove the bolt. This has worked for me like a gem, get the compressor max compressed, arrest the top flat surface against any of the hat bolts, then take off the strut bolt. I just replaced my rears and went thro ur agony!!!