Gland nuts rusted solid.

[Cletonius]

Help! How can I get this off?

[Andy.B]

Penetrating lubricant, heat it with mapp gas torches (about $50 from home depit), stick a pry bar between the spindle and the strut tube, and put a pipe wrench on the collar, and stand on the handle.

[Andy.B]

Like this:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=241500

(step 11)

[Exodus_2pt0]

^ I would advise against using any kind of torch on a piece of oil filled equipment.

Lots of PB blast, pipe wrench, and cheater bar.

[Andy.B]

^ I would advise against using any kind of torch on a piece of oil filled equipment.

Lots of PB blast, pipe wrench, and cheater bar.

Have a fire extinguisher handy, and don't go crazy with it.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Fire wouldn't be my first concern.

It's what happens when the heat causes a pressure buildup, and the seal fails, spraying hot oil all over you. Or worse, a violent rupture of the strut housing.

Will it happen? Probably not in a violent way, but it is entirely possible and reason enough to leave the "easy" button on the shelf this time.

[Cletonius]

OK, penetrant is soaking now. Did the other one too (still on the car) so hopefully with repeated applications it'll start to come through.

Thanks guys. I'm gonna go find a torch.

Edit: maybe no torch...

[Exodus_2pt0]

I'm gonna go find a torch.

Haha just saw the last edit, good save!

[sweet6e30]

I had same thing on some spares i took apart,....

Put the strut in a vise, and get a big ass pipe wrench, the pipe wrench really works well

[Cletonius]

Penetrating oil and the 36" pipe wrench did the trick!

Thanks guys!

Now to tackle the inner ball joint on the right hand side.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Penetrating oil and the 36" pipe wrench did the trick!

Thanks guys!

Now to tackle the inner ball joint on the right hand side.

Have fun with that.

Haven't had to replace one yet on an e30, but in my experience a good adjustable wrench and cheater bar will do the trick. That is, if you have the clearance.

[Cletonius]

Have fun with that.

Haven't had to replace one yet on an e30, but in my experience a good adjustable wrench and cheater bar will do the trick. That is, if you have the clearance.

We ended up cutting it on the left, we got enough out to get a die grinder in there and went nuts. Finished with an air chisel.

I don't want to pull the exhaust so options are limited for the right.

[agile30]

Use a 7/8 crow foot and extensions. Lots of them.

[blunttech]

We ended up cutting it on the left, we got enough out to get a die grinder in there and went nuts. Finished with an air chisel.

I don't want to pull the exhaust so options are limited for the right.

Living in the rust belt sucks. We had to replace 2 housings on a 318is that were just too far gone. Youre lucky you didnt just destroy whats left of the threads

[Rigmaster]

Living in the rust belt sucks. We had to replace 2 housings on a 318is that were just too far gone. Youre lucky you didnt just destroy whats left of the threads

WTF? What happened to the God's Country of legend?