GP4U2NV Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 Ok, I am doing my rear suspension swap........ I cant get the left strut out. I have not even tried the right yet. I have the rear lateral arm, trailing arm and swap bar loose. I have both nuts loose. I cant get the bolt through. I have: Hammered Heated with small torch pry bar screw driver What do I do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 I had a similar problem with my old 93' z34. What I usually do is get the nuts loose and put the 15/16s or 24mm socket over the nut and go to town on it with a 10lb sledge. and they will generally pop out then. However if they are REALLY stuck in there as my old 93's were. I had to remove the rear knuckle assembly with the strut and get it out of the car to get a better swing on them. they came loose pretty easy at that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP4U2NV Posted June 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 I really dont want to take it out of the car...... But I guess I can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairdo12 Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Does your car have aux springs? Take a large C-clamp and compress the spring, then hammer out the bolts. Then stand back and let the aux spring pop off because the C-clamp won't hold it steady. Its a lot harder and someties impossible to get the bolts out when the aux spring is there when I've done this. Some times I even take the upper mount bolts out first so the spring can move a little when I compress it. For those who do not know what the aux spring is, its a rubber spring that is held in at the bottom of the strut, behind the caliper. When reassembling, I compress the aux spring in a vise and then use some wire to hold it compressed. Then once its installed I cut the wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP4U2NV Posted June 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Does your car have aux springs? Take a large C-clamp and compress the spring, then hammer out the bolts. Then stand back and let the aux spring pop off because the C-clamp won't hold it steady. Its a lot harder and someties impossible to get the bolts out when the aux spring is there when I've done this. Some times I even take the upper mount bolts out first so the spring can move a little when I compress it. For those who do not know what the aux spring is, its a rubber spring that is held in at the bottom of the strut, behind the caliper. When reassembling, I compress the aux spring in a vise and then use some wire to hold it compressed. Then once its installed I cut the wire. What are you referring to as the "aux" spring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Behind the strut there is a rubber "spring" that looks like an 8. That needs to be compressed to remove the struts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 there's also an auxiliary spring special compressor tool called a M10 x 100mm bolt (or something like that). The bottom bracket is threaded for it and Monroe gives them for free with the rear sensatracs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairdo12 Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Important to mention that not all cars came with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 I have yet to figure out what the hell that was used for. Mine came with it, and I took it off and threw it away to reduce unsprung weight, and noticed absolutely no difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP4U2NV Posted June 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 <------NOT EQUIPED WITH THAT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 nice! 93- auxilary bracket with 94+ rear brakes!!!! the 94+ bracket is redesigned and shifts the top of the aux spring to the inside. it is argueable... but the aux spring is supposed to act as more of a damper to stabilize the suspension.... it seems to actually makes the car squat a bit more. a sledge on the bolts has always knocked them out fine for me. I coat them with antisieze when I reinstall them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP4U2NV Posted June 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Got the bolts out Next question. The two plates that are more towards the middle with 2 (10mm's) that hold the monoleaf do I have to install them if I am going to delete the leaf? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 I don't believe so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 unsure. they do limit the travel of the rear lateral links, and serve as a mounting point for the exhaust on most cars. Also... the retaining clips they bolt into might rattle. I would reinstall them with homemade spacers, personally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP4U2NV Posted June 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 homemade spacers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 a stack of washers or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 I took them off and threw them away permanently as they made removing the strut all that much more annoying. as I said, I haven't yet felt a difference, and considering w-bodies did come without them, it begs to question whether or not they're necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 FYI: I am taking about the retainers for the spring. what xtremerevolution is talking about is the auxilary springs, which can be removed and tossed if present. I added them for shits and giggles to one car, but will probably not do so to any others. you will get better benefits from a heavier than stock rear sway bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Ken, was it you that said only non-rear swaybar equipped cars have the aux springs? I guess it acts to somewhat dampen/contain/regulate the suspension movement sort of like how a swaybar would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP4U2NV Posted June 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 So I need the spring clamp in there? I know one is a hanger for exhaust. The other is bound up that is why I was asking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Ken, was it you that said only non-rear swaybar equipped cars have the aux springs? I guess it acts to somewhat dampen/contain/regulate the suspension movement sort of like how a swaybar would. yes and no. I've seen: lesser cars that have only the aux spring. cars that have only the sway bar and cars that have both. So I need the spring clamp in there? I know one is a hanger for exhaust. The other is bound up that is why I was asking. I recommend reinstalling them. what do you mean by bound up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWeb80 Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 My leaf is gone, but i still reinstalled those brackets:) not sure why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BXX Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 So I need the spring clamp in there? I know one is a hanger for exhaust. The other is bound up that is why I was asking. No, you do not need the leaf spring retainers there.. Its a good idea to leave the passenger side in as its an exhaust hanger. If the other is bound up, just leave it there. I did with mine. In the end, it wont make a difference as it doesnt add any bracing whatsoever to the rear subframe.. Any other questions, let me know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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