smashweights Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 does anyone have a 22mm socket with a hex top? i'm trying to get the damn front struts off my car and that's what i'm missing and autozone/homedepot dont have them. here's what i'm looking at (this is not my car, but another of the same model year):need to set a 22mm socket on the nut, hold said socket with a wrench, and drop a 7mm allen wrench down the middle of the socket into the piston, and wrench the damn thing off. Problem is i only have rounded 22mm sockets and the needlenose vicegrips dont seem to be giving me enough leverage/grip to hold the thing. it's hard in there as fuck right now and it's pissing me off cause i should have been done with the whole front suspension project 2 hours ago... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted October 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 like the socket in this pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disclaimer Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 Find a Sears Hardware... if they don't have it, you'll have to order it over the net, or make your own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheezle Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 614 657-8305 call me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted October 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 cant get through to you, goes straight to voice mail. got the socket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted October 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 (edited) http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/EMPI-5827-VW-BUG-22MM-STRUT-NUT-SOCKET_W0QQitemZ120340074179QQcmdZViewItemlike this guy Edited October 11, 2009 by smashweights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagr Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 I have one i believe. its a 22 for an electric impact wrench. You can borrow both if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagr Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 just went to look i think Phop5 has it. i loaned it to him a couple months back and forgot about it. he hasnt brought it back either. i can prolly get it tomorrow if it helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted October 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 well i bought a 7/8" oxygen sensor socket, which fits and has the hex top... but after removing the top strut mount bolt, the retainer plate bolt wont fit cause the damn rubber bushing opening isnt wide enough, still a 22mm (7/8") nut... ran out of time and patience so just put the old struts back on after finally getting them off. very pissed right now as in reality the only thing stopping me from doing this job is two fuckin nuts that i cant unscrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagr Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 ill have them tomorrow in Clintonville during the day. you want them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Impact wrench FTW. Air or electric. You ARE compressing the spring first, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted October 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 yes i'm compressing the spring! I already got the rear struts replaced no problems and the ride is massively better. but that makes sense considering the rears were completely non-functional (absolutely no rebound once compressed). the fronts are just being a pain in the ass cause the piston spins when you crank the nut and you have to use a non-socket wrench to wrench the socket while holding the shock piston steady with a 7mm allen wrench (aka, gotta stick the allen down through the socket). i wont need/be able to use the impact wrench as there's no electric out in our garage, but if the 22mm socket will work, i'd be glad to snag it. the spring plate retention nut seems it might be a 21mm nut, why they would change it from the 22mm mounting nut, no idea but my rounded 21mm socket fits just fine. just cant grip the damn thing. where you at in clintonville? i would come during work, but my lawn route will be in reynoldsburg tomorrow, so it'd likely be in the evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagr Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Marzetti on Indianola ave. during the day. Close to Cooke and 71. I'll pm you my #, I'll meet you somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted October 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 much appreciated, HOPEFULLY this will be all i need, but i'm sick of buying tools to simply unscrew something. oh well, gotta build the garage somehow i suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagr Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Oh shit. I think I've been wasting your time. I just reread your above post. My 22 is completely round on the exterior. So you won't be able to grip it as you have to stick an Allen wrench through it. I didn't catch that part cause I'm stoopid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted October 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 aww man. thanks anyway, i have short and deep 22mm sockets, they're just worthless for this application. i cant figure out why they dont make all sockets with a hex external top, seems like it would make them all more practical. Autozone, Advance, Lowe's, Home Depot, Sears, and Harbor Freight all do not have what i need (wasted 4 hours today driving around looking) and this is just getting irritating.any other suggestions? anyone work for a shop that'd do it for cheap? i'd feel like a failure bailing out on the DIY at this point, but i'm gonna need an alignment afterwards anyway. got all the parts, just need the damn right tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagr Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Let me check one more thing. I'll get back to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagr Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Nope. I knew I had a big one in my bike kit. It's a 32 though. Sry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Do you have room between the spring coils to get a pair of Vise grips on the piston / metal part of the strut and then use a regular socket and rachet to get the nut removed? If you are placing the strut, it wont matter if the piston gets nicked up alittle? Or possibly an off set box wrench, assuming the strut mount is not too deep.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted October 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 while it wont matter if i knick up the old strut, i still gotta be able to do the same thing to the new strut to get the nuts tight. the offset wrenches were a possibility, but i think they're too thick to fit between the nut and rubber bushing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 This is after the fact since you already bought the replacement parts, but for alot of cars, Monroe makes what called a "quick strut". The new strut is already assembled, has a new upper bearing,spring,dust boot, strut.I used a quick strut on a 2003 Chevy caliver and it cost $170 per side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Take the struts to a local shop and have one of the techs zip them off for you. Any machine shop can do it' date=' as well. I'm not convinced you won't strip that allen head trying to hold it while you turn the socket. I've learned over numerous strut replacements that impact wrenches are the only way to go. Zip it off and zip it on... you're done.[/quote']If you were close to Johnstown, I could help you out, unless you would want to drive out here. Do you have any way to bring just the struts out? I have a 22mm O2 sensor socket that would do the outer nut, and for the inner nut, it it is indeed a 21mm, just use a 13/16 sparkplug socket! 21mm is pretty close to a 13/16 (I interchange them once in a while.)Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted October 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 (edited) This is after the fact since you already bought the replacement parts, but for alot of cars, Monroe makes what called a "quick strut". The new strut is already assembled, has a new upper bearing,spring,dust boot, strut.I used a quick strut on a 2003 Chevy caliver and it cost $170 per side.Yeah i saw those online but got KYB struts/mounts/boots for about $80 from Rock Auto. trying to cut cost was most of the reason i'm DIYing.If you were close to Johnstown, I could help you out, unless you would want to drive out here. Do you have any way to bring just the struts out? I have a 22mm O2 sensor socket that would do the outer nut, and for the inner nut, it it is indeed a 21mm, just use a 13/16 sparkplug socket! 21mm is pretty close to a 13/16 (I interchange them once in a while.)Good luck!Yeah, i bought the 22mm O2 sensor socket and it worked just fine using a 1" box wrench on the upper strut mount nut, the O2 sensor socket is just too wide to fit inside the strut rubber bushing. I work in Gahanna, and at this point i'd try anything just to get this project over so a drive to gahanna wouldnt be out of the question. i just cant see how the impact wrench is gonna work we cant stabilize the strut piston. i tried the 13/16" spark plug socket and it's just a tad too small and the 7mm allen is too thick to fit through the socket on that size.Take the struts to a local shop and have one of the techs zip them off for you. Any machine shop can do it' date=' as well. I'm not convinced you won't strip that allen head trying to hold it while you turn the socket. I've learned over numerous strut replacements that impact wrenches are the only way to go. Zip it off and zip it on... you're done.[/quote']might work... just either need to be able to work on it in the shop parking lot or have another car to drive the removed struts up there Edited October 12, 2009 by smashweights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 Well, POO! You're having no luck at all here!The impact wrech works by just hitting the trigger in bursts. It spins the nut a little bit before the strut piston shaft turns. Or, we use the vice-grips one in a while, when there is too little resistance on the piston to keep from spinning too freely. Really, showing someone is a lot easier, and understanding how the impact guns work is a help in understanding, also! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hue jass Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 You didn't forget to soak it with PB Nut Blaster® did you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.