I recently bought a set of bilstein coilovers off an org member, and i got the passanger side done with no problems. The drivers side however needed to be re threaded so i did that. When i was tightening the big middle bolt , it got all the way down to the bottom and would keep spinning. So i pushed the car down and you could clearly see the strut moving around in the strut mount. I tried washers , and a different bolt , and no luck what so ever.
So then i decided to say forget it , and go back to stock. So i get back to that top middle bolt again , and the same exact problem. I just tried washers , and i finally thought i had it tight , i took the car for a ride, and clunking all over again.
Im thinking i need a new strut mount?
( I just ordered the Tein Basic Coilover set, and i dont want to be SOL , when they come in )
Any ideas, comments , suggestions? I need to get the car back on the road as quick as i can.
You are suppose to hold the strut shaft (with wrench or socket) and then turn the nut on. Else the whole shaft will spin.
My Car
i didnt do that on the stocks , but i did that on the bilstein.
But how hard is it to ruin a strut mount , do you think mine will be alright if i dont drive it ?
Go to Sears Hardware, buy a crows-foot socket (or some types of oxygen sensor sockets will work) -- with this tool, you will be able to put another ratchet on the strut to hold the shaft and subsequently be able to tighten the nut without the shaft spinning. Take a look at the design of the socket and you will understand what I am saying...
Impact wrenches are meant for loosening bolts/nuts - not tightening them. Final torque should always be applied with a TORQUE WRENCH. If you do not understand why I am saying this, then it is time to sign up for Auto Repair 101. I apologize for the harsh tone of this message, but I am far too tired of hearing stupid and dangerous advice bandied about on this forum.
Sincerely,
illtmprdman
MeltdOwn350 aka cOdy wrote:impact wrench
I'll let the car sit if i have to until i get the Teins.
I think my problem is that i ruined the 04 Stock Strut bolts, so i used some 2000 bolts.
The 04s have like a built in washer , and the 00s dont.
is their anyway i could have broke the strut mount ?
the teins come with everything else , bolts and all that. So the only problem i would have is if i had a broken mount , because the teins will replace everything else.
That sound right?
illtmprdman wrote:Go to Sears Hardware, buy a crows-foot socket (or some types of oxygen sensor sockets will work) -- with this tool, you will be able to put another ratchet on the strut to hold the shaft and subsequently be able to tighten the nut without the shaft spinning. Take a look at the design of the socket and you will understand what I am saying...
Impact wrenches are meant for loosening bolts/nuts - not tightening them. Final torque should always be applied with a TORQUE WRENCH. If you do not understand why I am saying this, then it is time to sign up for Auto Repair 101. I apologize for the harsh tone of this message, but I am far too tired of hearing stupid and dangerous advice bandied about on this forum.
Sincerely,
illtmprdman
Im in my second year of vocational for auto repair , so i get where your coming from. I did the vice grip on the shaft "trick" , so i know to hold the shaft still .
.JeRsEy KiD.* wrote:MeltdOwn350 aka cOdy wrote:impact wrench
I'll let the car sit if i have to until i get the Teins.
I think my problem is that i ruined the 04 Stock Strut bolts, so i used some 2000 bolts.
The 04s have like a built in washer , and the 00s dont.
is their anyway i could have broke the strut mount ?
the teins come with everything else , bolts and all that. So the only problem i would have is if i had a broken mount , because the teins will replace everything else.
That sound right?
Any comments / ideas/ suggestions on what i said ?
A good rubber strap wrench will hold the strut shaft still too. And will not damage it.
C.T.S wrote:A good rubber strap wrench will hold the strut shaft still too. And will not damage it.
Ok if i use a rubber strap wrench or a vice grip ... someone said the Tein instructions says do not use air tools.
So put the vice grip on the shaft and use a torque wrench on the top middle nut.
Should i tighten this with the car in the air ( jack and jack stand ) or tighten it when the car is on the ground? ( no jack )
I put my Koni together in an assembly and then put it on the car.. only thing I had to be careful about was that the nuts were a different size for the Koni that the stock nut. (1/2 inch shaft vs. a 3/8 ) all i used was an impact wrench. the key is that the nut needs to turn faster than the shaft, and then when it was on the car I made sure it was torqued to spec.
it wouldn't hurt to replace the mounts then you would know for sure, good luck
Cinny wrote:I put my Koni together in an assembly and then put it on the car.. only thing I had to be careful about was that the nuts were a different size for the Koni that the stock nut. (1/2 inch shaft vs. a 3/8 ) all i used was an impact wrench. the key is that the nut needs to turn faster than the shaft, and then when it was on the car I made sure it was torqued to spec.
it wouldn't hurt to replace the mounts then you would know for sure, good luck
I remember i impact gunned them on while they were on the car when i did my koni / sportlines.
I just want to do it once , and get it over with. Plus i dont want to ruin a brand new set of Teins
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