front suspension problems

[bola]

I have been trying to do my front suspension today but cannot get the strut tops (with the rubbers and that) from the dampers. They are the only bits I need from the whole assembly as i have uprated springs & dampers. So is there any way i can get them off apart from the obvious, use a longer bar etc.. Also can they be bought new from anywhere? thanks

[Philsutton]

air gun will get them off in seconds, failing that about 6 hours there with bag of random spanners an mole grips.

[Iain]

What's the actual problem? They're just too tight?

[bola]

yep basically, unbelieveably tight! Would an air gun not just cause both the damper piston (?) and nut to spin?

[Welsh Dan]

Chop through the shaft of the damper.

[Iain]

Air gun may work as Dr Phil suggested, worth a try. Can't think of any better ideas than Dan's brutal method if you've tried the right hand tools.

[Jack]

yep basically, unbelieveably tight! Would an air gun not just cause both the damper piston (?) and nut to spin?

Mole grips on the piston. Had to do that to mine to disassemble them.

[craig green]

If its the std dampers you'll need a drop end ring spanner for the top mount nut & best I found for the hex on the top of the piston rod is a socket & T-handle. Soak in WD or similar first & then go at it.

[Philsutton]

air gun will spin both but it has the force to crack the nut off as well, will take seconds to do as iain knows. As I had to do his

[bola]

If its the std dampers you'll need a drop end ring spanner for the top mount nut & best I found for the hex on the top of the piston rod is a socket & T-handle. Soak in WD or similar first & then go at it.

exactly what i tried mate, too tight for that! it just nackered the socket up!