Collar nut hell (changing cartridges).. any advice?

[houstonh]

So.. I got some extra front suspension to play with. Got the springs off.. went to pop out the cartridges. My pipe wrench didnt fit around it... so I proceeded to use a 1/2 extension and a Five pound sledge. The top of the collar nut came off. Fun stuff.

Any advice or tricks/experiences with this issue. I am kicking myself for not just buying a bigger pipe wrench.

I got bilstein sports going in...

[Teaguer]

If there is nothing left for a bigger pipe wrench to grab onto I would grind/drill a notch into what is left and then try to tap that out .

Usually one the gland nut breaks free it is pretty easy going from there .

[browntown]

I don't know anything about changing a collar nut, but found this resource which should help. Use an air hammer with chisel bit and destroy it:

http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_27.htm

[houstonh]

looks like I need to get an air chisel. I have sliced, diced it, all to no avail. I can now get my vice grips on it, but the fugger doesnt budge... the copper just distorts.

nothing is easy :)

[FredK]

I just cut the top off then tapped out the rest of the stub with a chisel. Mine were rusted solid to the strut housing.

[delphini]

I used the claw end of a hammer to grip , and use another hammer to turn that to get mine off of my 87.

[MR 325]

An air hammer is usually the tool of choice for this.

[golde30]

lotsa PBblaster, let it simmer for while, go back at it.

[houstonh]

got it with an air hammer. SOB!

[houstonh]

ugly


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[peter_x]

A shop did one for me for $10. They had this socket (or similar):

http://www.samstagsales.com/bmwtools.htm (Go down to where it says "strut pin wrench"

[Tarn]

Big vice and a 3' pipe wrench will get them off.