What tool do you use to tighten front strut insert nut? Oops move me to Garage., I have heard that when they back off a bit it can cause a bang Options

[wndsnd]

I am trying to hunt down a front end noise, a metallic sounding bang over bumps front right.

My suspicions are
A). Sway bar drop links
B) sway bar hitting tank
C) strut nut.

Normal tests seem fine, checking ball joint and tie rod ends.

John

[wndsnd]

Took the front suspension down today. Removed strut nuts and washers and then took a rachet strap around the top of the shock cover and down to the a arm. A few cranks and the strut cleared the inside rim and I was able to disassemble.

I had ordered a set of used shock stops from Bruce Stone. You have to love that guy. Always gets you out a a jamb and the parts are always reasonable and shipped quickly.

The side with the clunk had the strut nut backed off completely. It slid up the shaft and was well under the cover. No wonder it was clunking.

I took Rich Towles advice and borrowed a strut spanner from a local Motorcycle shop. This functionally should have worked, but the size was just off enough so that when I applied torque, it would pop open and off.

I cleaned the nuts off good with brake cleaner and applied blue locktight liberally to the threads. I used a soft hammer and a brass punch to tap it as tight as I could. They didnt quite seat all the way, but were very tight and secure.

I trashed the rubber grommet that Bilstein provided as a stop for the cover, and tried the new/old stops from Bruce. They were a bit too long for the Bilsteins and I could not get the strut to seat far enough to get the nut and washer on.

So I cut them in half. Perfect. Tightened every thing up and just took it for a spin. Difference of night and day.

I might change my mind on the Bilsteins now.

Wife spotted a Miata in the next town and she wants me to take a look at it. She wants to spend her money (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

It will have to be an automatic as she is hopeless with a standard.

John