Top nut and Guide Support Removal

RedSled · 01-18-2012, 02:35 PM

I need to swap out the guide support on my driver side KW shock this weekend as the bearings are shot. I will be without air tools this weekend and was curious if anyone has removed the top nut from a KW shock without using and impact gun? Can it be done? Cheers

mike-y · 01-18-2012, 03:17 PM

I think your best bet is to try and remove the nut while the strut is still installed on the car. If you're lucky, it will come off.

If you can't get it off that way, you can remove the strut, and turn the spring perch all the way down and try using something to hold the shaft in place while you try and remove the nut.

as a last resort, you can use vice grips and a rag at the very top of the strut shaft to hold it in order to get the top nut off. you don't want to put the vice grips on any part of the shaft that can be pressed into the strut body, so scoot your bumpstop down, and try to get the grips right under the top spring hat.

RedSled · 01-18-2012, 05:36 PM

thanks mike. i can wind them all the way down to relieve the pressure on the top hat. i am worried about how the hell to keep the piston from spinning. I also dont want to jack up the valve at the top of the strut. I'll have to take a look at it when i pull the strut out from under the car. I definitely cannot get at the top nut while its installed without taking off the stressbar.

luckyu · 01-18-2012, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSled

thanks mike. i can wind them all the way down to relieve the pressure on the top hat. i am worried about how the hell to keep the piston from spinning.

Put a hex driver in the tip of the piston?

#Tee · 01-18-2012, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckyu

Put a hex driver in the tip of the piston?

Yup, my FK's had that option on the piston. Not so sure on the KW's.

lpphreakx06 · 01-19-2012, 01:43 PM

I think we used vice grips with a shop towel wrapped around the shaft.

1romero · 01-20-2012, 08:43 AM

vice grips are nothing but trouble. i would recommend using whatever the top of the struts is designed for, more then likely a hex. most manufacturers of coil overs do not recommend any impact tools. it doesn't take much to mess up the valving

Hybrid For Life · 01-20-2012, 11:18 AM

What should that top but be torqued to?

RedSled · 01-20-2012, 01:27 PM

i'm going to have to take a better look at the top where the rebound adjustment is when i get the shock out and see if i can grab it with something from there. the top nut should be torqued to 29 ft/lbs.

01-18-2012, 02:35 PM	#1
RedSled Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 245 Posts Drives: 335 M Sport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (4)	Top nut and Guide Support Removal I need to swap out the guide support on my driver side KW shock this weekend as the bearings are shot. I will be without air tools this weekend and was curious if anyone has removed the top nut from a KW shock without using and impact gun? Can it be done? Cheers
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01-18-2012, 03:17 PM	#2
mike-y just another bmw douche bag 195 Rep 3,640 Posts Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	I think your best bet is to try and remove the nut while the strut is still installed on the car. If you're lucky, it will come off. If you can't get it off that way, you can remove the strut, and turn the spring perch all the way down and try using something to hold the shaft in place while you try and remove the nut. as a last resort, you can use vice grips and a rag at the very top of the strut shaft to hold it in order to get the top nut off. you don't want to put the vice grips on any part of the shaft that can be pressed into the strut body, so scoot your bumpstop down, and try to get the grips right under the top spring hat.
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01-18-2012, 05:36 PM	#3
RedSled Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 245 Posts Drives: 335 M Sport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (4)	thanks mike. i can wind them all the way down to relieve the pressure on the top hat. i am worried about how the hell to keep the piston from spinning. I also dont want to jack up the valve at the top of the strut. I'll have to take a look at it when i pull the strut out from under the car. I definitely cannot get at the top nut while its installed without taking off the stressbar.
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01-19-2012, 01:43 PM	#6
lpphreakx06 Professional Moose Racer 325 Rep 7,509 Posts Drives: SG 335i E92 RIP + 2015 SS M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bellevue, Wa iTrader: (25)	I think we used vice grips with a shop towel wrapped around the shaft. __________________ Visit my blog anytime: http://www.sfpayments.com BMW Dream Team PNW Chapter, member #1 \|HP Autowerks \| AR DESIGN \| BMW PERFORMANCE \| STOP TECH \| Volk Racing\| AMS \| ARKYM
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01-20-2012, 08:43 AM	#7
1romero Enlisted Member 1 Rep 44 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: delaware iTrader: (1)	vice grips are nothing but trouble. i would recommend using whatever the top of the struts is designed for, more then likely a hex. most manufacturers of coil overs do not recommend any impact tools. it doesn't take much to mess up the valving
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01-20-2012, 11:18 AM	#8
Hybrid For Life Banned 83 Rep 2,110 Posts Drives: Out of Spec Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Santa Barbara, CA iTrader: (4)	What should that top but be torqued to?
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01-20-2012, 01:27 PM	#9
RedSled Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 245 Posts Drives: 335 M Sport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (4)	i'm going to have to take a better look at the top where the rebound adjustment is when i get the shock out and see if i can grab it with something from there. the top nut should be torqued to 29 ft/lbs.
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