How do I remove the strut top hat?

[Tybh88]

different strut with similar situations I'd compress the spring to where is still had pressure on the top hat to hit it with a impact gun. Light work.

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[dgorsett]

A vice grips holding the shaft with a rag to protect the shaft is what I had to do. If you have the right tools (offset wrench) you should be able to key an allen to hold the shaft

I used vice grips up high, out of the stroke range of the shock

 

[Techun]

I've given up on removing this top hat and just went back to stock. The (probably failed or soon to fail) badlands bilsteins just aren't worth this process.

 

[Meynard]

Steeda sells this little socket

 

[Brian_B]

I've given up on removing this top hat and just went back to stock. The (probably failed or soon to fail) badlands bilsteins just aren't worth this process.

ouch

 

[Tonka Bronka]

Steeda sells this little socket

Looks like that nut has been through enough already. All you need on them is a little heat and an impact.

 

[Techun]

Well I hated feeling like a quitter, and didn't feel comfortable knowing that nut was 3/4 of the way off after I reinstalled it. So I tried again.

First was vice grips on the shaft.
Then vice grips on the shaft and my uncle's high torque impact.
Then a series of dremel, punches, chisels, etc.

Literally nothing worked. About to give up but figured it's already ruined let's drill/drain the shock body and cut the shaft.

Success. All this heartache for one stupid tophat! And if it wasn't recessed like that it would have never been an issue lol. So...one corner is done!

 

[Tonka Bronka]

I actually told you to put some heat on it. This is like a troll right?

 

[Techun]

I actually told you to put some heat on it. This is like a troll right?

Well my goal is to save the tophat. We briefly tried putting heat on the problem nut but it's surrounded by rubber so that's a no-go.

 

[Tonka Bronka]

All you have to do is protect the rubber with a small piece of tin or fire proof material. I’ve removed many this way so yeah, it’s not a no go.

 

[Techun]

All you have to do is protect the rubber with a small piece of tin or fire proof material. I’ve removed many this way so yeah, it’s not a no go.

Well now I know. I don't own a torch, don't have experience with that. I'm going to do the second rear today, I bet (hope) it comes off smoothly with no drama

 

[Techun]

Success on the second one, but it was still a PITA. I had to pick mud and crud out of that recessed cup the nut sits in. So everything was pretty rusty. Used a brush to clean everything and the threads and put anti-sieze on the visible threads in hopes to lubricate it's journey up.
The initial movement of the nut took a LOT of force. Then it was pretty easy to move, I went 2 steps forward one step back the whole way.
The PROBLEM though, is by the end you're still on the threads and you completely run out of post to grab?! What kind of idiot design is this? I much prefer the kind where you put a hex key down into the post, you won't run out of depth there. However, vice grips on the shaft did grip enough to get it off. Phew.

Also realized I'm an idiot and if I compressed the spring even more I can expose the whole nut....so we could have more easily cut that nut off the first one. Doh.

 

[Rkgzx9leftcoast]

I actually used a little WD-40 and started to loosen the nut with the spring pressure still on it, have to be careful. Once its starts to loosen then use spring compressor.

 

[Brian_B]

put anti-sieze on the visible threads in hopes to lubricate

If you haven’t discovered PB Blaster I highly recommend it. Soak, drink a beer, and it will probably come loose after that without needing the grinder. 60% of the time it works every time.

it smells like an old dude’s sweaty socks though

 

[Techun]

If you haven’t discovered PB Blaster I highly recommend it. Soak, drink a beer, and it will probably come loose after that without needing the grinder. 60% of the time it works every time.

it smells like an old dude’s sweaty socks though

I sprayed it thoroughly with PB blaster as the very first step!

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