Q: What tool to remove strut gland nut?

[funcrew]

Pardon my stupidity, but I've never seen a fastener like this:



What is the method to remove it? Is the flimsy plastic outer sleeve important? I don't mind buying a tool if needed, I already have 100 special tools for the E30; the engineers in the 80's just loved specialty fasteners.

edit: Where do I get new gland nuts? Dealership? I'm installing KYB's that don't come with new gland nuts.

[Wishno87]

Take the rubber thing off and use a pipe wrench.

[uturn]

It should take a pin spanner. I wouldn't buy one but instead go at it with a pipe wrench and use the new gland nut that comes with the bilsteins.

[Farbin Kaiber]

But do as the others said. Otherwise, put the old gland nut in a vice, and rotate the housing, that is IF you removed the whole thing off the car.

[Northern]

Big pipe wrench. But once it is barely loose, my angle grinder wrench fits perfectly in the holes.

In case there's someone out there who has never experienced the joy of an angle grinder:

[accident]

I've always used big pliers or a pipe wrench. If you're upgrading to something like Bilstein the spanner for the stock gland nuts will be pointless because Bilstein uses a different gland nut.

[funcrew]

Thanks to all for your replies. I guess I'm lucky; I tore off the plastic covers, and soaked the gland nuts overnight in penetrating oil. Couldn't find a pin spanner wrench on Sunday in Las Vegas, so got a 24 inch monkey wrench from harbor freight. Bolted the strut to a wheel, had my son stand on the tire, applied the wrench and the nut spun off with no drama whatsoever. They joys of working on a rust-free California car. Thanks again for your patience with my noob questions and issues.

[Roysneon]

Glad I'm not the only one who immediately jumped to the pipe wrench solution.

[Cabriolet]

Glad I'm not the only one who immediately jumped to the pipe wrench solution.

every car i've done. pipe wrench...