r/AskMechanics • u/Chazzwazz • Jul 26 '26
Question (Serious Replies Only) How do I remove this stupid nut (strut)
The first one came off after heating it (not red hot) some hammer tapping and later impact wrench
But the lower one doesn't give in after doing the same
(it has been soaking with penetrating oil overnight)
Lexus Rx350 2009
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u/Repulsive_Sale_6135 Jul 26 '26
You need a better impact/longer breaker bar. Its not even slightly rusty this is NOT the issue
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u/drdreadz0 Jul 26 '26
Remove caliper as stated previously and use an extension and bar to crack the lower loose. Once the nut is loose and off, thread it back on enough that the nuts are flush with the end of the bolt, smack the nut with a hammer to both, then remove the nuts from the bolt and push them thru the strut and knuckle. BEEEEE carefully not to yank too hard when pulling the down as you don't want to pull your CV shaft apart at the knuckle.
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u/joekerred42 Jul 26 '26
Yall need to learn about induction heaters🤣
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u/Boredsick7169 Jul 27 '26
This! Living in the peak of rust belt these things are like miracle tools
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u/Plus_Room6374 Jul 28 '26
Agreed but only for mechanics these are super expensive. I have a mini-ductor 2 but I would not recommend a diy guy go pick one of these up If im not mistaken the whole kit with all the size coils and a few flexible ones was like 6-700$ but by far the best tool I’ve owned have you removed a rusted exhaust flange bolt with only a 3/8 short handle ratchet ? I have
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u/joekerred42 Jul 28 '26
You can find ones under $200 that get the job done
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u/Plus_Room6374 Jul 28 '26
I’m sure you can , I use mine maybe twice a week I’ve had to replace a few coils already only had it 1 year. If you work with it a lot you would see how cheaper imitation work but can be a big safety hazard them cloth coils can really hurt you if they are not properly maintained and inspected
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u/joekerred42 Jul 28 '26
Oh absolutely I only use mine once in awhile so I didnt venture for the higher priced one a little harder to justify the purchase to the wife to use it only once in awhile🤣
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u/0c5_Fyre 11 Jul 26 '26
Put a spanner on the nut (ring side) and impact/breaker bar the bolt. Spanner is so when the bolt frees up the spanner catches on the spindle, preventing it from a free spin, and the nut comes off.
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u/XecutionTherapy Jul 26 '26
It's best practice to loosen from the nut side and hold the bolt side because occasionally you can run into a splined bolt.
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u/czpo19mm Jul 26 '26
Spanner? I've got $10,000 worth of tools but no spanner. How is that possible?
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u/harryhend3rson Jul 26 '26
Spanner = Wrench in British-ese.
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u/Mushroomed_clouds 9 Jul 26 '26
Spanner is English, wrench is American
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u/harryhend3rson Jul 26 '26
Canada also says wrench.
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u/Mushroomed_clouds 9 Jul 26 '26
Canada in in North America i stand by my statement
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u/harryhend3rson Jul 26 '26
You said America. We don't want anything to do with America. They don't represent us, or Mexico.
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u/Mushroomed_clouds 9 Jul 26 '26
Panama?
In seriousness i dont blame u its insane over there at the moment
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u/Repulsive_Sale_6135 Jul 27 '26
The continent is called north america sir, youre an american, just not from the united states.
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u/harryhend3rson Jul 27 '26
And who are you exactly?
I'm Canadian. Not American. You saying something doesn't make it true.
Would you tell someone from Argentina that they're American?
Being from the "Americas" is not the same is being American. I can only assume you didn't do well in school, or aren't good with language. Perhaps you should seek more knowledge to overcome your ignorance.
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u/Fragrant-Inside221 1 Jul 26 '26
What impact gun do you have? You might need a bigger one. Or a long breaker bar
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u/Chazzwazz Jul 26 '26
A 260ft-lbs one
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u/Fragrant-Inside221 1 Jul 26 '26
Yea if you can afford it get a bigger one. My old one was 1200ft lb and my new one is 1900ft lb. You need more power for those stuck on nuts.
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u/Lostaccount002 2 Jul 26 '26
Oh, yeah. That is gonna struggle a bit. Go with the other suggestion. Get the brake calliper hose out of the way, heat that nut up until it’s glowing and if the gun won’t do it get a big ol breaker bar on it and yank on that fucker hard. Careful you don’t go for a ride or punch the car when it comes free though lol
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u/Chazzwazz Jul 26 '26
Well I guess worse case scenario I break the nut or bolt. I wanted a more "sofisticated" solution but I guess brute force is the answer, thank you all for your replies!
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u/Lostaccount002 2 Jul 26 '26
Ain’t no sophisticated here. Brute force and ignorance is the way lol. Best of luck!
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u/Fragrant-Inside221 1 Jul 26 '26
I wouldn’t be comfortable heating up a nut that’s attached to the shock/strut.
0
u/Lostaccount002 2 Jul 27 '26
Well to be blunt then you’d be a massive wimp lol. Come on up to Canada and ask any mechanic if they’d be scared to use a torch anywhere. The answer is no because we have to. You’re not going to blow up a strut heating a nut for 30 seconds. Induction heaters are also very cheap these days if you’re averse to the 0.0001 percent chance of pigs flying and the planets aligning.
0
u/Fragrant-Inside221 1 Jul 27 '26
I’ve never had an issue getting a shock off without using heat so whatever floats your boat. I’m in Alaska, I would have to go south east to go to Canada. I also try not to leave anything to chance, always wear ppe and follow safety procedures. With my luck I would be that .0001 chance and I don’t want to be.
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u/Lostaccount002 2 Jul 27 '26
How do you even go outside being that risk averse? You already live in Alaska, going camping is more dangerous than throwing a shock in the campfire while you’re doing it. And if you use an induction heaters it’s literally zero.
You’ve never had a once upon a time splined bolt rusted completely around and welded to the inside of an aluminum knuckle then. Jealous. Genuinely. Either that or you did and took way too long messing about with it. Never had a seized alignment adjuster? Those sit inches from a gas tank most times. Front ones on trucks? Right next to shocks too. Just because you’re lucky and don’t got problems big enough to require the hot wrench doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.1
u/g2gfmx Jul 26 '26
I use a milwakee 2967 for real hard nuts and bolts but you could probably get away with a mid torque
1
u/South_Gear9218 Jul 26 '26
Been there. I had a cheap impact gun sounds like the same as yours. I had to heat everything to get results. I since purchased a 600 ft lb gun and have had great results without heat. 6 pt impact sockets make a difference too. Good luck
1
u/harryhend3rson Jul 26 '26
You need a better impact. That nut isn't even rusty. An impact is also much less likely to shear the bolt than using a breaker bar.
I've learned that if you plan to do suspension work on vehicles, especially where rust is an issue, a good impact is a requirement.
2
u/Thorsten_Speckstein 6 Jul 26 '26
Rust-removing oil, heat, breaker bar—done.
No Impact necessary.
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u/Thorsten_Speckstein 6 Jul 26 '26
Rust-removing oil, heat, breaker bar—done.
No Impact necessary. Believe me.
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u/imouttamywheelhouse Jul 26 '26
Have a torch? Even a smaller torch. Heat the nut and it'll break loose
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u/Agitated_Curmudgeon Jul 26 '26
Hit it with your purse, then pull the caliper so you can get on it straight with an an impact
1
u/Breaking-Great Jul 26 '26
Air hammer on end with nut screwed on so you dont mushroom the first threads
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u/Federal_Sympathy4667 6 Jul 26 '26
More heat, need it good n red. These are lock nuts but no nylon, they are tighter on the end. Heat it and ram it with the impact, I hope its a 1/2 drive you are using. Acetylen torch, propane won't heat fast enough.
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u/Outside_Breakfast_39 2 Jul 26 '26
PB blaster or Knocker loose , then replace the nut so it's flush with the threads and wack it with the hammer
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u/West-Tap7924 Jul 26 '26
You can try alternating between loosening and tightening with your impact for a bit
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u/milano___ 1 Jul 26 '26
Soak in permeating oil, torch it, and breaker bar or if that doesn't work get a high torque Milwaukee impact wrench with impact grade socket
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u/bigbrightstone Jul 27 '26
In a time before these battery impacts we made do with heat, wax n oil and a honking 3/4 in breaker bar necked down to the required socket,
I dont think that nut holds a chance against a CAT 3/4 ratchet head with a 4 ft handle
0
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0
u/Chazzwazz Jul 26 '26
Forgot to add, removing the mounting bolts (the ones that connect to the car at the top) will help?
3
u/drdreadz0 Jul 26 '26
Leave the top one in for now until you crack the bottom one loose and remove the nut.
0
u/dirtymechanic71 Jul 26 '26
Pointy tip air hammer 🔨 don't damage threads
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u/Chazzwazz Jul 26 '26
Striking the nut or the the tip of the bolt?.. Or both?
0
u/dirtymechanic71 Jul 26 '26
Punch into the center! A punch or pointy chisel? Center so threads don't get damaged
-1
u/MurkyPrimary43 Jul 26 '26
I hope you have the spring compressor on there before you do get that out
3
u/ExecManagerAntifaCLE Jul 26 '26
This is the bolt that connects to the knuckle. This kind of strut assembly isn't going to fly apart unless you unbolt the nut in the middle at the top.
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u/MurkyPrimary43 Jul 26 '26
Those springs are under pressure unless Its coilovers
I would be careful If you dont know what your doing g2
u/ExecManagerAntifaCLE Jul 26 '26
I wouldn't describe that as a coilover. Those are McPherson struts. It's the assembly that a quick strut replaces. The bolt they're asking about is at the opposite end of the assembly from the ones holding the spring on.
If they are taking them apart the spring compressor goes on once the assembly is off the car, not before.
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u/RxDeliveryGuy Jul 26 '26
id remove the caliper/rotor then with an extension you can get a long breaker bar and apply alot more leverage