Strut nut socket??

[aczr2k]

Looking for a strut nut socket. Replaced front struts on my 08 GMC Sierra this weekend and needed a 15mm socket to hold the nut and 5/16? wrench to hold the flats of the strut shaft. Was able to get the old one off with the impact wrench but had trouble installing the new one. Anyone know what socket or tool I need. Lisle, KD or snap on even. Thanks!

 

[scott37300]

Looking for a strut nut socket. Replaced front struts on my 08 GMC Sierra this weekend and needed a 15mm socket to hold the nut and 5/16? wrench to hold the flats of the strut shaft. Was able to get the old one off with the impact wrench but had trouble installing the new one. Anyone know what socket or tool I need. Lisle, KD or snap on even. Thanks!

Picture?

 

[Blackbomber]

You can try a 5/8" spark plug socket, with the 5/16th on a 1/4" drive through the square drive of the big socket, and a wrench on the flats of the spark plug socket. It will be a bit sloppy, but might work. I've never had a problem with the impact method.

 

[fvfvsix]

I know Hazet has some in their catalog for German cars - you may want to check and see if they have any sizes that work for GMCs.

 

[metalhead212121]

aczr2k- Im gonna take a shot in the dark and guess that there ISNT a socket/wrench/tool to hold the "bolt." I get the impression you're talking about a design GM used on FWD vehicles with front struts from the mid 80's till present day (?).

Long story short I opted to do one of the following:

Use heat. I highly doubt mapp gas will work. Need torch.
Air Hammer. Risky because you might ruin the threads even if you have the nut on there a few threads.
Big F'n hammer. See Air hammer.
Buy new bolts and nuts from the dealer in advance. I got a set of bolts and nuts collecting dust right now for FWD GM front struts. Been trying to sell them at a loss for a while. Surprisingly no bites. =(
Using WD40 or PB blaster and letting it set in couldnt hurt either.

Maybe Im 100% wrong in what you're talking about. Like I said before.. Im just taking a shot in the dark.

As others stated pics could help.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Dan

 

[dwm]

I assume you need Lisle 20400 or similar. I don't know if the Lisle 20400 fits your struts, but there are many of this type of tool on the market.

 

[jeffk14]

Wouldn't a pass-through socket setup like GearWrench work?

 

[marcusicp]

Wouldn't a pass-through socket setup like GearWrench work?

That's what I always use!

 

[DrkMtnDew]

My tool of choice for that job...

 

[otis66]

Looking for a strut nut socket. Replaced front struts on my 08 GMC Sierra this weekend and needed a 15mm socket to hold the nut and 5/16? wrench to hold the flats of the strut shaft. Was able to get the old one off with the impact wrench but had trouble installing the new one. Anyone know what socket or tool I need. Lisle, KD or snap on even. Thanks!

I got mine from Snap On. The socket is made to hold onto the stud.

 

[nelstomlinson]

Snap On ST669-1? Part of ST669? Just buy the 1/2" drive socket you need for the nut, and the 1/4" drive bit for the strut threaded shaft, and you are good to go.

Or, just put an impact socket on there and rattle it off and on.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Here ya' go: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=&Group_ID=1632&store=snapon-store

 

[aczr2k]

I think the Lisle 20400 is what I needed. I'm going to pick one up for next time, The snap on socket looks correct for the odd shape of the stut rod but would still need a socket to turn the nut. I think its to deep for a deep offset wrench. I'll pick up the Lisle and post back. Thanks!

 

[porcupine73]

Not sure exactly how your strut is set up, but usually I go with a gearwrench pass through socket, and a hex bit in the proper size. It's still tough to get the desired torque. I've seen special tools for this but haven't purchased any. The deep offset wrench does not work, at least not on the ones I have tried, because there is no room for it to fit, with the strut mount opening being just big enough to get a socket into.

I must've tried it this way one time, since I found my pic... of course a slight adjustment is needed to the torque wrench reading this way.



Ah here's the one I was looking for:

 

[blarf]

My tool of choice for that job...

Ya me too. Hazet series 630. Works a treat if you don't want to use impact tools.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

of course a slight adjustment is needed to the torque wrench reading this way.

No adjustment needed, just take the crowfoot off the TW and turn it off to the side 90° and put it back on the square drive. Doing this, the center of the fastener is the same distance from the pivot on the handle of that beam wrench as if it was a socket on the square drive.

Charles

 

[jeffk14]

of course a slight adjustment is needed to the torque wrench reading this way.

Ah here's the one I was looking for:

No adjustment needed, just take the crowfoot off the TW and turn it off to the side 90° and put it back on the square drive. Doing this, the center of the fastener is the same distance from the pivot on the handle of that beam wrench as if it was a socket on the square drive.

Charles

Yep, what Charles said. And you really need to use the safety pins on those spring compressors in the second pic.

 

[porcupine73]

Ahhh ok thanks for the tip about rotating the crow's foot. I'm not sure why I didn't have the pin locked in place on the bottom. Those were lift springs from Australia and I think they might have been too big around to get the clip to close. Though I did close it on the top so I'm not sure. That's the Lisle spring compressor.

 

[jhelrey]

Impact on, impact off!