Friday, June 15, 2012 - 10:41 am, by: Trevor Marsh(Tma7)
Having got some new gas struts for my 1991 TT, I am now having trouble getting the old ones off!
I've managed to get the clip off the end that's attached to the body of the car (what might be called the rear firewall) but when I look at the end attached to the boot lid's curved steel 'arm', I can see what appears to be a solid 'nut' on the side connected to the small ball joint of the strut itself and a separate nut the other side.
I don't think the 'solid' nut moves or un-tightens but getting a spanner on the other nut is extremely difficult and then if I did manage to get a spanner on it, there's little to no chance of turning that nut due to having no room to work.
I've tried with me laying down in the boot with the boot lid in various positions, right down to when it's almost closed but still I can't get on it.
Am I missing something obvious?
Or is this yet ANOTHER of those pain in the a*se jobs that can only be accomplished when you've lost the required amount of skin?
Friday, June 15, 2012 - 11:11 am, by: Trevor Marsh(Tma7)
Ok. Forget this post. I've now found a past guide by Alistair Moorby. That'll teach me for not doing a search first. I just never expected anyone else had had the same trouble.
Friday, June 15, 2012 - 12:50 pm, by: Trevor Marsh(Tma7)
I've now read quite a few different threads where others have had the same problem.
I've now rounded some of this 'nut' (I say nut but on the replacement struts that I bought on ebay, the nut's built into the ball joint type thingy that the strut turns on) and have realised there aint no way this bitch is gonna turn.
I've also tried what one member suggested, which is that the strut will simply pop off sideway off from this ball joint thingy. It wont.
I'm sure it would if what I already had on my car was already a replacement (which I would now be changing) then it would pop off. But I've just given the strut one hell of a pull sideways and just ended up bending the metal the 'nut' is going through.
Beginning to regret getting these struts as it was easier propping the boot lid up with a pole.
I'm now thinking of drilling through the nut's sides (90 degrees to the thread) in two or three areas so that eventually the side of the nut falls away and I can then hopefully, get the thing to turn.
This Loctite business? I'm still wondering why they did it.
Anyway, any thoughts or suggestions greatly appreciated!
Friday, June 15, 2012 - 01:10 pm, by: Wayne Womersley(A49kidx)
Hi Trev I like a challenge, so i went out and had a look at this strut thing. Now which? nut are you talking about. I assume? its the one on the small bracket on the curved boot arm. There is a ball with a Hex base with a threaded shaft. My 12 mm ring spanner fits it good. (But I have not tried to loosen it). On the inside of that little metal bracket welded to the curved arm is "sort of" nut. Hard to see but I don,t think it's a Hex nut, looks to have 2 flats, and I suspect is welded to the bracket. Back to MY other Soarer Job......
Friday, June 15, 2012 - 08:59 pm, by: Trevor Marsh(Tma7)
Wayne- Yes the 'ball with a Hex base' is EXACTLY the bit I'm talking about. Your description's a lot clearer than my amateur one. If you tried moving it I'm guessing it would be locked solid.
It's strange that your 12mm spanner fit perfectly although I was only using a 12mm open ended spanner. Now this conversation reminds me of one that I read on one of the other threads on this subject. In that thread, one guy was saying 'use a ring spanner' and the other guy was saying 'How can I when the strut gets in the way?'.
So I'm now equally confused. How can YOU get the ring spanner on?
I'm a bit puzzled now.What am I missing? (apart from a brain)
Saturday, June 16, 2012 - 11:25 am, by: Wayne Womersley(A49kidx)
Trev, maybe the struts have been replaced in the past, re. the 12mm spanner not fitting. What about Vice Grips. If there is some sort of "glue" on the threads, sometimes applying heat to it may help to remove the nut. But be careful!!! don't burn the car down, and the Tank is right there..........
Saturday, June 16, 2012 - 02:27 pm, by: Trevor Marsh(Tma7)
Oh yes, as soon as I mentioned to my missis that I might have to use a blow torch, she pretty much freaked out. "What?!" she says, "Right next to the petrol tank????" and there then followed a ten minute explanation by yours truly as to how a torch could be used without setting fire to the car, which is in the garage and therefore, we end up losing both.
Even so, I'm not keen on the heat method. I'm about to start on putting my new headlights in so the struts will have to wait a few days but if I don't get any other ideas or suggestions, then it'll be drilling out the nut things
Saturday, June 16, 2012 - 02:44 pm, by: Wayne Womersley(A49kidx)
Trevor, New headlights, are these new or "pre Loved". Have fun changing them, and read ALL the tutorials. I'd like a bit more info on these lights for my own interest. And these struts, are they Toyota or aftermarket, where did you get them. You have collected a few parts pretty quickly. I thought this thing started out with an Oil, Transmission and Coolant change, now lights and struts. I've got a few things you could do on my car. Come "down" for a week.....
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