How to undo golf suspension top nut?

[Spathodus77]

Hi,

I have a golf mark II with a worn suspension bush at the top of the shock absorber inside the turret. Replacing the bush looked like a easy job until I got to the top strut nut inside the engine bay. This nut sits in a little well and requires a 21mm socket to get undone...the problem is that a 6mm allan key has to be put through the socket into the top of the shock/strut to stop it from turning with the nut. This stops me using a nice big breaker bar on the nut.

So far I've tried putting an old 21mm socket on the nut and gripping this with mole grips whilst I put a 6mm hex bit through the center of the 21mm socket into the top of strut, but I can't get enough torque on the mole grips to get the nut to come undone (the mole grips don't slip I just don't have the strength!).

Are there any special tools/techniques which would help me with this?

Thanks,

Ralph.

[Dr G]

Stilson or a spring locking pipe spanner do the job nicely

GSF do an allen key with a nice big handle on it too for exactly this job - if you were nearer I'd gladly lend you the tools for it!

[Nobody You Know]

You need a 'goose' neck spanner like these:



Machine Mart do them.

And a 3/8 drive Allen Socket like these:



Then just put the spanner on the nut and the allen socket in the shock with a ratchet on the end and it's a piece of piss.

[Matt_N]

Ah the dreaded top mounts on the Mk2 Golf.

A windy / impact gun usually gets the top nut off, or as mentioned a swan neck spanner with allen key.

You'll then find the nut that holds the spring cap on, it requires a special socket that is available from most motor factors.

[Nobody You Know]

Matt_N said:

Ah the dreaded top mounts on the Mk2 Golf.

A windy / impact gun usually gets the top nut off, or as mentioned a swan neck spanner with allen key.

You'll then find the nut that holds the spring cap on, it requires a special socket that is available from most motor factors.

Ooh yes that is the second problem.

You can do it with a piece of 1" tube with some slots sawed into the end and a hole drilled accross for a screwdriver to go through.

You will need some spring compressors as well.

[Dr G]

I found a few times taht even a swan neck spanner wouldn't quite get in to the gap - it's tight!

[Spathodus77]

Thanks Guys. I purchased an impact wrench which got the nut off in no time and I have the special strut tool on order. I would have got the top nut off a lot quicker if it had n't been for me setting the torque wrench to tighten for the first few attempts at loosening it

Ralph.

Edited by Spathodus77 on Friday 22 May 18:56

[Nobody You Know]

Spathodus77 said:

Thanks Guys. I purchased an impact wrench which got the nut off in no time and I have the special strut tool on order. I would have got the top nut off a lot quicker if it had n't been for me setting the torque wrench to tighten for the first few attempts at loosening it

Ralph.

Edited by Spathodus77 on Friday 22 May 18:56

If you don't want to wait for the strut tool, just compress the springs to take the pressure off and then the nut can usually just be pushed round with a screwdriver or a quick tap with a hammer to loosen it and the do it with you fingers (it's usually not tight.