strut retaining nut

[cholyoke]

I'm trying to finish putting Bilstein HD strut inserts in my 86 eta. I have everything apart and all strut bearings, springs, etc. to redo the suspension. The threaded retaining nut (#6 in the diagram in the link) is rusted in place and from what I can see I need to either take the strut assembly to a professional or cut/chisel it out myself since a pipe wrench wasn't doing anything but bending the outer plate.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...11&hg=31&fg=10

Is a similar retaining nut supposed to come with the new shocks? The nut was not in the box with the shock and didn't see anything available for the HDs on Pelican Parts's website or on Bilstein's website. The original nut has a smaller ID than the piston of the Bilsteins, so I can't just get another one of the original BMW nuts.

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere. I searched, but didn't find anything other than how to get the damned thing out.

[Massimo]

I have just done mine it was a pain in the ass. I ended up getting one of my massive flat head screw drivers and placing it at a 45 degree angle along the edge of the nut. Then proceded to wack it with the hammer, eventually came out.

I replaced my shocks with billie sports and they came with new nuts.

[mr ilia]

I lubed the nut with wd40, waited a day for it to penetrate, hummered the strut a little near the nut area. I then used a monkey wrench to loose it. Mine looked super rusted and it only took me about 10-15 minutes to loose for both sides.