Well, someone (cough cough, dealer) overtightened the nuts on the strut towers. I managed to get 5 of the 6 off but the 6th is stripped. Cant seem to get this nut off with any size socket or crescent wrench. How do I get this thing off? Cutting the only option? Obviously, im not worried about the nut itself, but the stud, id like to keep intact.

Thoughts? Thanks

 

I've had good luck with these:

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try using a size 11mm 12point socket and hammer it in. that should be your best bet other than cutting off the nut

 

this.

or if you can get a good angle I've used a big flathead screwdriver & a few hits with a rubber mallet to loosen nuts that have had the edges rounded off

 

FYI, those nuts are only to be torqued to 28 ft/lbs. Use a damaged nut remover to get it off. Unless you replace the upper shock absorber mounting bracket, you'll need to use a die to recut the threads.

 

Vise grips.

 

+1 for this!

 

Get a socket you don't need that's smaller . Put loctite on it then hammer it on to the nutz

Or just go to a shop. They will easily be able to get it off with an impact before you strip it anymore and screw yourself

 

dam you Jqueen, why you copying me for? i said that first dum dum

 

just spent 2 hours trying with no luck. Tried a size 11mm, tried vice gribs, tried the craftsman bolt extractor kit...nothing is working.

 

Is the stud spinning too when you try to turn the nut?

 

chisel it off and then replace with new nut and new stud.

 

again, vise grips. $3 at lowes if you don't have one. most sockets aren't strong enough to compress the nut into shape. locking vise grips and 20 seconds will remove your stripped nut.

 

the stud does not spin. ive tried vice grips but the location of the nut makes it difficult to get to. I managed to get a set of vice grips on there but because of the proximity of the strut bar, its difficult to turn and get leverage.

 

If it's not spinning, you should be able to get the damaged nut remover on there and use an extension and a long breaker bar and put some torque on that thing and get it off of there.