Supra Gaz Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Hi folks, I decided I was going to make my Supra look more like a sports car and less like a Rangey by lowering it an inch or so on the HKS suspension I have fitted, I put the car up on axle stands and took the weight of the suspension, applied oceanic amounts of WD40 and loosened the locking nut (the one lower down the strut), now the nut that adjusts the height (as far as I was aware) is stuck fast, it will not budge despite a good hour of WD40 application and trying undo it with the tool and a rubber mallet! Please can someone tell me eat I am doing wrong, I have ruined my knuckles attacking this and just want it sorted. Cheers folks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark newman Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 it should just unwind , what tool are you using . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guigsy Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Iv never done it and have no real clue but wouldn't you have to compress the spring before you wind it up? There must be loads of pressure on that lower bit that would make it hard to tighten? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark newman Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 no you can do it with compressing the spring . but you must have the rigth tools . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 I have a spanner that is specially made for the job, it hooks into nut and your supposed to just turn it, it just isn't happening. I have spring compressors and gave it a go with them on, didn't make a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westy Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 I have these same Coilovers and when I did a refurb on them they were solid also! C-Spanner and a hammer (hit seriously hard) before they budged and that was with them off the car! Did you grease the threads prior to fitting/setting the ride height!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 I greased them a good while ago, I didn't adjust them when I put them on, the heights were all the same when they came so I just popped them on, only now am I trying to flipping adjust them. So spanner and smack hard eh? I am going to look stupid here but the nut turns the same way as the locking nut doesn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westy Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Yes mate, same way! If they are tht tight I'd possibly think about removing them so as not to damage anything else with the hammer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 Good point, I am always nervous about smacking things on the car but if that is what it is going to take then so be it, where's my sledgehammer.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethr Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Doesn't anyone make a proper gaiter kit for coilovers? If you had something like the top shroud on these bike suspension units http://www.chopperresource.co.uk/my_uploads/products/hagonroadclassic1.jpg and a gaiter like these for MX bike forks it would protect the threads. It doesn't take much to mess up a fine thread in alloy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted January 8, 2013 Author Share Posted January 8, 2013 I don't believe so Gareth, good idea though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westy Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Old tent waterproof lining and cable ties does the job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted January 8, 2013 Author Share Posted January 8, 2013 I will grab some of those gaiters, hopefully it will help with avoiding this in the future. Big ass hammer here I come! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted February 6, 2013 Author Share Posted February 6, 2013 Sooooo, big ass hammer didn't work, well one side is done anyway, the other side are properly stuck, I have tried everything including an extension bar on the spanner. It has had a bath in wd40, but it's as stubborn as my wife. I am considering heat, but obviously with the coilover a being full of oil I am a little sceptical, anyone had any experience with thisz? Or know of a wonder spray that can break the rust in the thread causing the issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 Try spring compressors to take the load off first before you damage yourself and/or the car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 (edited) Don't these have nitrogen in them as well as oil ? Not sure i'd be attacking them with a blow torch Try penetrating oil on them Edited February 6, 2013 by Dnk (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted February 6, 2013 Author Share Posted February 6, 2013 The springs are on compressors and off the nut. I thought they something fairly flammable in them, hence no heat yet. I have tried wd40 by the bucket load, anything else I can try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted February 6, 2013 Author Share Posted February 6, 2013 I have done a ton of searching, something called KROIL comes up as being very good but difficult to source, also ACF-50,are teu actually going to make any difference? I'm properly stuck here guys, any help or advice would be brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich.2211 Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 With regards to coilovers covers, then Demon Tweeks sell them http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/competition-dampers/kirkey-coilover-cover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich.2211 Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 (edited) As for the stuck adjuster, plenty of penetrating fluid and soak it repeatedly. Might be worth soaking it a few times over the next few days and then trying again. If still no luck, get a nice large piece of scaffold pole or similar over the end of the C spanner for extra leverage. It's not that difficult to remove and refit the whole coilover, so if that will help, then remove the seized ones. Worst case scenario is you have to cut the adjuster ring off and purchase some new ones from HKS if they're available. Edited February 6, 2013 by Rich.2211 (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted February 6, 2013 Author Share Posted February 6, 2013 Cheers Rich, just ordered the covers in black. I'm going to try this ACF stuff, apparently it is what wd40 wants to be when it grows up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich.2211 Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 Cheers Rich, just ordered the covers in black. I'm going to try this ACF stuff, apparently it is what wd40 wants to be when it grows up. Good purchase I shall have to get me some of the ACF stuff my self Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted March 3, 2013 Author Share Posted March 3, 2013 Thanks to John (dude) for sorting this for me, the alloy of the nut corrodes onto the steel of the shock thread and gets properly stuck. John heated up the nut and released it for me. Thanks again mate my car now looks nice and stanced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethr Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 You need a proper penetrating fluid for corroded fasteners... something like Plus Gas. WD-40 just has the best marketing. (Although even that probably wouldn't have worked on those alloy threads.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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