Strut Bar Removal Help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 351
Likes: 5
From: Clearwater FL
Strut Bar Removal Help
Do I need to heat these SOB's up or do I need a jack under them? I've been soaking for 2 days and I can't move these suckers still. They are the final hold up to me removing the diff cover.
In the process of rebuilding my rear-suspension. Have a date at VBandP tomorrow after work since I found I live one block away. Figured I'd do this while the gas tank was out.
PS: I meant Strut Rods, the rear's.
In the process of rebuilding my rear-suspension. Have a date at VBandP tomorrow after work since I found I live one block away. Figured I'd do this while the gas tank was out.
PS: I meant Strut Rods, the rear's.
Last edited by MikeKey; May 22, 2012 at 08:59 PM.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 6
I am guessing you are referring to the shock mount unit that doubles as the strut mount? I found it was easiest to remove the strut / shock mount as one piece and get it in a vice. There is a tool you can buy or make that threads onto the end to let you beat it out with a small sledge. The trick is beating it out without damaging the threads. New ones cost upwards of $60 each so being careful is beneficial to the project budget.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 351
Likes: 5
From: Clearwater FL
No I mean this part here:
PS: I already removed the shock. But I was planning on getting new Adjustable Strut Rods from VBandP tomorrow when I pick up my composite spring and replacement sway bar since mine is cracked.
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...rged-ends.html
PS: I already removed the shock. But I was planning on getting new Adjustable Strut Rods from VBandP tomorrow when I pick up my composite spring and replacement sway bar since mine is cracked.
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...rged-ends.html
Last edited by MikeKey; May 22, 2012 at 08:59 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
P-Buster every night for week and this tool. It was no problem on my 78 which has little rust. Go slow and use a short handle maul.
http://www.vbandp.com/Tools/1963-82-...over-Tool.html
http://www.vbandp.com/Tools/1963-82-...over-Tool.html
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
That part of the car hates everybody
The back part of the shaft (farthest from the nut) has a spline on it, the front part has a flat across it (D shape shaft) so it needs to be driven straight back. Can't be turned at all
Plus it's likely bonded to the rubber/sleeve of the strut
A puller (preferably one that grabs onto the back arm of the spindle bracket so it's not trying to spread them)
They have a "removal tool" that you thread on and pound the crap out of with minimal damage to the thread, VB&P will sell it, kind of a blind nut type of an arrangement
(as clearly shown in the previous thread, sorry about that)
HIH
Mooser
The back part of the shaft (farthest from the nut) has a spline on it, the front part has a flat across it (D shape shaft) so it needs to be driven straight back. Can't be turned at all
Plus it's likely bonded to the rubber/sleeve of the strut
A puller (preferably one that grabs onto the back arm of the spindle bracket so it's not trying to spread them)
They have a "removal tool" that you thread on and pound the crap out of with minimal damage to the thread, VB&P will sell it, kind of a blind nut type of an arrangement
(as clearly shown in the previous thread, sorry about that)
HIH
Mooser
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
P-Buster every night for week and this tool. It was no problem on my 78 which has little rust. Go slow and use a short handle maul.
http://www.vbandp.com/Tools/1963-82-...over-Tool.html
http://www.vbandp.com/Tools/1963-82-...over-Tool.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
I took mine out last week. They werent fun. After soaking them, back the castle nut almost all the way off, leave it on for a few threads. Get a long bolt and put it in the "pocket" created by the castle part of the nut that is now created. Make sure it fills this area and comes in contact with the base of the threaded shock mount. This way it will stay trapped in that pocket, and will only make contact with the end of the shock mount, not any of the threads on the mount or the threads of the castle nut. Give it a few solid whacks with a small hand held sledge. It will go. I have had better luck this way than with the removal tool.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 6
Leverage. Use a 6 point socket that fits tight. Use a ratchet and a long breaker bar or just a breaker bar and a socket. You can also try an impact socket and an impact wrench after a little heat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
That part hates everyone- even me. I pushed the trailing arm bolts out by hand- and they had not been removed in 40 years. But the shock mounts were a fight.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Do I need to heat these SOB's up or do I need a jack under them? I've been soaking for 2 days and I can't move these suckers still. They are the final hold up to me removing the diff cover.
In the process of rebuilding my rear-suspension. Have a date at VBandP tomorrow after work since I found I live one block away. Figured I'd do this while the gas tank was out.
PS: I meant Strut Rods, the rear's.
In the process of rebuilding my rear-suspension. Have a date at VBandP tomorrow after work since I found I live one block away. Figured I'd do this while the gas tank was out.
PS: I meant Strut Rods, the rear's.
Limping across the line
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,299
Likes: 109
From: Peoria Az
Heat is your friend. The rubber of the bushing will absorb shock and make efforts futile. Something else that'll help, is have a helper hold a equally big hammer on the shock side spindle mount to back it up while you hammer.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 351
Likes: 5
From: Clearwater FL
Well... I got the castle nuts off. Still hates me. I guess I need to go get a torch or an air gun.
Funny aside, I told my wife as I went out to the garage today, "I'm going to go lube my nuts and see if I can get them off"
... didn't think about how that sounded till I was outside.
Funny aside, I told my wife as I went out to the garage today, "I'm going to go lube my nuts and see if I can get them off"
... didn't think about how that sounded till I was outside.