Seized-Part Job · Car & Truck

How to Remove a Shock or Strut Top Nut That Spins

It spins. The shaft spins. Nobody gets anywhere.

The top nut on a shock or strut rusts onto the shaft, and the shaft spins inside the body. Most shafts have flats or a hex socket in the end for holding them. On a MacPherson strut the coil spring is under load.

The Method

Step by Step

1
Know what is under load
On a strut assembly, the top nut holds back a compressed coil spring. Compress the spring with a proper strut spring compressor first.
2
Soak the threads
Spray the nut and exposed shaft threads. Give it 15–30 minutes.
3
Hold the shaft
Use the flats or the hex socket in the shaft end with a wrench or hex key, and turn the nut with a ratcheting box wrench or a strut-nut socket set.
4
Or use an impact wrench
An impact often spins the nut off before the shaft can follow.
5
Cut it if the shock is junk
If you are replacing a plain shock (not a strut under spring load), cutting the shaft is fine.

Heat call: No heat

No heat. Shocks are pressurized and contain oil.

Safety

Never remove a strut top nut with the spring not compressed. The spring can release with enough force to kill.
Use a rated strut spring compressor, not threaded-rod clamps.

What to Spray