Bradley,
If you are using 11/16 that is real close to a 17mm. Try that, I think that is what I used. Also, instead of vise grips, I took the flat on the top of the shock and put it in a big ol' vise. Clamped the whole thing in there, then compressed the spring, then took the nut off as far as I could (til it hit the vise) then took it out of the vise and finished it off. It also seemed safer that way (since the whole unit was controlled by the vise -even if something went wrong with the compressor.).

Also, glad the rears went on okay...

 

It should be a metric nut. Why did you even start with a standard size wrench? I gues it was probably all you had. Anyhoo, I would try to use a rachet and not a wrench. A correct sized socket will have more holding power then the wrench will too, so even if the nut is stripped, it might hold well enough for you to remove it. PB blast it for a while first. Make sure the spring tension is off of it. Use a breaker bar if it is that tight, and probably replace that nut with a nice shiny one.
Good luck,
Wes

 

i'm not sure the ratchet would work though because then the nut will just be turning along with the whole damper rod ... so it won't be loosening up at all. you really need to be able to hold the damper rod still with something while you loosen the nut, otherwise it's just spinning and no progress loosening.

if the nut is rounded enough that a wrench won't fit without slipping, you may need to try a vise grip there too.

how's it looking today?

 

If you can hit it with an air ratchet though, it will come off since it spins it so fast. It is the pulling the tablecloth and leaving the plates on the table effect. This is how I did it with all of my hondas when I went through that phase of my life...

 

PB blast tonight, head to sears tomorrow and get one of those sockets that is designed for stripped nuts, and try again in the morning.

get either a ratchet wrench or locking pliers, and lock down the nut. Then get someone else with a C clamp around the shock, and have them turn the shock, to loosen it.

good luck

 

Just put the flat of the rod in a vise and turn the nut with the right size wrench. I did it again with Charles today. Hold the rod, turn the nut. Even if it is cranked down it should not be that bad.

 

im finally cornfed!!!!!!!! i started last night at 11 and finished at 6 in the morning. hahaha. anyway, i never could get that nut off. i even took it to work and put the top of the shock rod in a vise.....still didnt wouldnt budge. i actually broke the rod. finally i broke out the hacksaw and went to work......it only took 10 minutes to cut through it. then i did the same thing with the other one. im so glad that is all over with. thanks for all the suggestions guys. ill have pics up as soon as i can. probly wont be till after the weekend. (gotta go home for my bday)

 

what??! you broke the rod and sawed through something???!?

 

We need pics. I get the feeling you are talking about one thing and I am talking about another. I am confused, but, that is my usual state.

 

i agree ... because everything that i'm picturing would be horrible to break or saw

 

I assume he cut the nasty bolt. Do the spacers come with longer bolts? I sure hope so

 

Sounds like you had a hell of a time. I lifted mine today and had some trouble with the fronts too. For me, it was compressing the coil. I did the job at the Auto Hobby Shop. They will be purchasing a new set of spring compressors after what I did to them today. They were in poor shape when I started, and totally seized up by the time I finished. It looked like one of the nuts tore through the threads on the shaft and managed to crossthread itself. And that was when I was trying to take it off. It took almost 2 hours to get it off the coil. I thought we'd have to cut it off but finally managed to remove it with a pry bar.

It sure is nice to have the job done though, isn't it? Now we just need to see some pics.

 

Mossback, he couldn't have cut the bolt because that would've been the damper rod that runs down the entire length of the strut! I'm assuming he is talking about a different part, in which case I hope he comes back and enlightens us so I can better understand to what he is referring.

 

sorry i didnt explain myself....i was really tired after working on it for 7 hours straight. i compressed the spring enough so that i could cut the damper rod. i did this with both front shocks. the nuts were just to tight and i wasnt going to deal with it anymore. then i went and got some new shocks and put the compressed spring, the new spacer, and bushings on the new shock. make sense? oh well, at least i got it done and got some new shocks out of the whole deal. hope that clears it up a little. ill have pics up tomorrow or monday. im not at home right now so i cant take pics and stuff.

 

ohhhh, okay ... I thought you were saying you cut the damper rod and then just reinstalled the struts with them sawed in half. phew.