To expand on what Nodsetse said, you don't need to replace the nut, just add a 2nd on top of the original. Once snug, use a box wrench to twist the bottom one counter-clockwise and the top nut clockwise. This is also known as a "jam nut" in some circles...

 

The shock tube rotating is pretty common when trying to install this nut. Try the jam nut idea first, but if you cant' get it down, go find someone with an impact wrench. Keep tapping the trigger, letting it stop, tap trigger, let it stop, etc. An impact wrench will have it's peak torque at the first moment you hit the trigger then fade out and just spin if you hold it.

It'll feel like you're not making progress, but using the tap, tap, tap method on the impact wrench will eventually tighten the nut down to where you need it to be.

 

Heh, if he loses that other one while driving, he's gonna steal your name Mr One-Nut

 

A dubious title, but I'm willing to share :D

 

ahhh so i took the coilover off of the car and too it to vex motorsports (a local shop) to see if they could tighten it. they tried but it did not budge. they guy there said that it looks as if the nut is cross threaded. so now i will be sending the coilover to f2 so they can fix it...

 

take the coilover off on the side that's all retarded. The reason it's like that is cuz the top mount is loose (not a good sign at all). After you take your coilover off, get a vicegrip or something to hold down the shock body, and tighten that nut like a ****.. Preferably see how many grooves are on the correct side, and make it match on the retarded side. If that doesn't work, then i'm not really sure what to tell you.. Get it fixed right away because from what it looks like, your coilover may become 2 pieces and just self-dismantle itself.. O_O

edit: didn't know there was a second page.. :D

 

Please please please don't use a vice grip on the shock. A shock is basically a hydraulic and if you damage the surface of the rod (which you most certainly will with a vice grip and the pressure you're putting on it) you will create ridges in the smooth surface. When the ridges enter the shock body, the little seals that need to be 100% tight against the rod are going to open and allow air, debris, and water into the hydraulic fluid. All of these things can degrade the performance of a hydraulic very very quickly and can become dangerous quite fast.

If you think about those cranes and construction equipment, the whole machine is dirty as hell except the piston on their hydraulic. The hydraulic on those machines is basically the same technology as the shock in your coilover. The reason that they stay super clean and shiny is because of the seals that clean that rod as it moves back and forth through the body/hydraulic fluid. If the rod or seals get damaged that one spot of super shiny metal on the whole messy construction machine would start to get dirty quickly and that's a sure sign that the whole (very expensive) unit would have to be replaced.

Please don't use vice grips on the rod!

 

yea dont worry i am not going to do that. i took the coilover out of the car and took it to a local shop and they tried and tried but were not able to tighten it. they said that if it were loose the pillowball mount would have play in it and it did not. we tried to take it off as well as tighten it and it did not so now i am waiting for daniel to let me know if he has stock suspension that i can borrow so i can send the coilover out to f2 for them to repair it. i dont really feel like messing with it any more f2 said they would charge 75$ to repair it... im not worried about that. i should have sent in the warranty card when i got them...arg... thanks for all of your replies.

 

lol put a towel inbetween it.. i used a vicegrip and it works all the time.. no ridges or anything...