Lucky Gti 0 Posted January 4, 2008 Right. Decided to go a bit further while I'm swapping engines so took both front suspension units and hubs off. No great dramas (well, no more than usual!! ) Got some new springs so started to dismantle the unit. Started off by snapping my allen key!!!. Broke out the air grinder/hacksaw combination and lopped about 5mm off the end of the damper thread so I could get at the broken bit. Removed that, but still can't get the nut undone. Now, short of sawing the damper bit in half, any one got any ideas?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danpug 1 Posted January 4, 2008 May seem a bit of a silly question but are you using a spanner on the nut at the same time as using the allen key? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony 1,003 Posted January 4, 2008 Decent air impact gun should take it straight off - local garage / tire fitters should have something suitable if you don't Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mbayley77 0 Posted January 4, 2008 Sounds dodgy but I wasnt going to use my shocks again....... I got a set of mile grips onto the shock shaft with some cardboard in between. As tight as I could get it. Then the spanner on the top nut. And a good hefty amount of swearing and achnig later off it came. One I got off without marking the shaft...the other had a slight score mark around it from the mole grips. The perfectionists will eat me for this im sure but I held the shock shaft right at the top by the mount so even if it did score then it would never actually compress enough to go through the seal and mess things up! Like I say I was never going to use the shocks again! just wanted the top mounts etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lucky Gti 0 Posted January 4, 2008 Yep, am using both, thats how the allen key snapped!! Problem is now the allen key bits FUBAR'd so looks like the mole grips method would probably be best!! I'll see if I damage them, if I do I'll get some new ones! GSF do them at about 30 quid apiece. Anywhere else worth looking, and will lowering it 30mm still be ok on standard shocks? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maturin23 10 Posted January 4, 2008 Do what Anthony said - I took mine to the tyre place up the road, they just put an air powered impact gun on the nut (no need to 'lock' it with an allen key) and just whizzed them off in seconds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan_M 66 1 Cars Posted January 5, 2008 Yep, am using both, thats how the allen key snapped!! Problem is now the allen key bits FUBAR'd so looks like the mole grips method would probably be best!! I'll see if I damage them, if I do I'll get some new ones! GSF do them at about 30 quid apiece. Anywhere else worth looking, and will lowering it 30mm still be ok on standard shocks? Remember the allen key is a 7mm bit, which is'nt a common size in allen key sets. I had to get mine seperate in Halfords. Plus its a 22mm spanner for the topnut, and you'll want a 'dropped' sort that sits in the recess. Someones probably overtightened them previously Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandy 191 Posted January 5, 2008 Another option is the drill down the side of the nut, then split it with a chisel. Got me out of the poo before. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brianthemagical 1 Posted January 6, 2008 my cheapo lecy impact gun worked on a split damper rod. fialing that, torx bit hammered in the allen recess. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sutol 0 Posted January 6, 2008 Another option is the drill down the side of the nut, then split it with a chisel. Got me out of the poo before. Mine was loose Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bluespanner 0 Posted January 6, 2008 To be honest, alot of the time you can molegrip straight onto the shock, its incredibly hard metal anyway. If you grip it right by the top, the likelihood is its never going to compress that much anyway, so the seal will be fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
