Just curious as to how you got the top strut nut off the front struts when swapping the springs. This is assuming you don't have air tools at your disposal.

 

I'm no help here then. I did all my work in the shop at the dealer where I work. you maybe want to try and wrench on the nut and a small wrench on the shaft end. if i remember right, it's flat on two sides.

 

I just used a deep socket and a regular rachet... Loosen the nut before out take the suspension of the car... It's a lot easier...

 

I had air tools. So I'm out.

 

As jdbinspired said. Use a deep socket(19mm?) to crack loose the nut while the
strut is still on the car. Don't loosen it too much as it will just make it harder to
remove from the car.

then you use a box wrench like this...

 

I read somewhere to clamp a locking wrench to the strut and then pin it against the ground and they try and loosen the nut. Worked on my friend's i30 strut assembly. I just torque wrenched the crap out of it till it loosened

 

word. easiest method. i used old school gear wrench's!

 

This is not recommended for a torque wrench.....
At the very least you will change the calibration,
and quite likey damage the wrench as well.

 

That's the tool I need to get. The issue with using just a socket is that the strut shaft will often rotate has you're trying to break the nut loose. That type of box wrench will allow me to get around the recessed nut while using vise grips on the top "ear" of the strut to keep it from turning while applying torque.

I've removed/installed lots of suspensions and those top strut nuts are always a pain. Thanks for posting the pics of the box wrench.

 

yup, i had to buy that tool last minute from checkers. they didn't have metric so i had to buy standard. oh well, it still worked...

 

No prob. btw, there are ones with built in ratchet...those are very convenient, but I was too cheap to buy the box wrench and the ratchet ones just for the install. hehe.