The bolt/nut on the top of one of my coilovers' struts is loose. If you look at the top of the strut tower under the hood, and take off the rubber boot, its the big bolt right under there. Is there a way for me to tighten it without air tools? If I take the 3 smaller bolts off of the top of the strut tower, I can push the suspension down enough so that I can get a wrench in there. But if I try to turn the wrench to tighten the bolt, it just spins the strut shaft around. Obvioulsy I don't want to risk marring the shaft by attempting to hold it in place with pliers or something. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

I've run into this problem and i found that if I tried tightening it while on the car, it would just come loose in a month or so. The only way to ensure that they are tightened to specifications is to take the assembly off of the car, secure the strut using some sort of stationary clamp, and torque down the bolt. If you don't do it this way, it will come loose all the time.

 

That is what I was afraid of...

 

If it comes loose within a month you aren't tightening it enough the specs is only like 60ftlbs or maybe 90ft lbs either way very easy to do with hand tools. i've lowered many scions using the tighen while on the car method no problems . the car must be sitting on the ground with full weight exerted onto the struts.

 

With the two spring installs I've done (my xA and a Corolla FX16 GTS), I waited until the car was lowered to tighten those bolts. Otherwise, the shaft just spins. I use a socket, extension, and deep socket (if necessary). Good luck, loverboy

 

I figured it would work if the car was on the ground, but that means I'd have to take the cowl thing off that otherwise blocks access to the bolt. That or maybe I can borrow miko's extension I'll see what I can do tomorrow. Thanks for the help guys.

 

You might want to try a swivel socket... Or maybe just a deep socket.

 

Deep socket is all you need--wheels can be on the ground, i've done it before just like that when my coilovers were getting clunky sounding up front.

Just do it as tight as you can and it should stay tight.

 

Yeah I have a deep one. But the cowl gets in the way of getting down in there with the ratchet.

 

Wierd, i've never had issues with the cowl--you might want to try just putting the socket itself over the bolt, and then manuever the actual wrench in a way that you can get under the cowl but still make contact with the socket.

Let us know how it goes, if that doesn't work I could snap a few pics to see if i can capture what needs to be done

 

Thanks, JDM. I'll try that.

 

A very nice swivel sure comes in handy i'll tell ya that , lol.

 

There is no way you will be able to fit a torque wrench under the cowl unless you take it off of the car.

 

Yeah I just figured that out. I tried putting the socket on and then manuvering the wrench to fit in the socket...didn't work. It looks like I'd need some super low-profile piece.

 

KevinxB - I am having the same problem with tightening my top strut bolt . No space, and with the swivel extension on my wrench, i cant seem to get enough torque to get it tight.

 

Yeah, I'm out of ideas. It seems like the strut is going to have to come out in order for the bolt to be tightened correctly.

 

Even when you take it out, What are you going to use to hold the strut to tighten down the bolt? that is where my problem is.

 

I don't think you need to worry about that if you're using air tools. My friend Brian is supposed to help me with it.

 

You only need i beleive 60 some odd ft pounds , nothing that can't be acheived by a swivel. hmm maybe my car just stays tight. i dunno , lol.

 

i'm gonna try to snap a few pics for you guys today.

*EDIT* Added pics.


The point of operation after lifting rubber seal



17mm socket placed over top strut bolt



Ratchet placed over 17mm socket, under plastic cowl



Closeup of the area with wrench hooked up



Weapons of choice-- 17mm socket, and Craftsman 944808


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