Time for some more parts...
 

After replacing the whole of the rear suspension at the end of last year, I'm now looking at the front end.

A couple of years ago the drivers side strut top bearing was making a noise, so a member here tried to help me change it, but the nut on the top of the strut was seized solid, spinning the whole shaft of the damper so we just had to give up and refit it, and its been quiet since. However the springs are now looking beyond their best, flaking paint and bubbling rust, so I want to replace those. I already know I'll need to replace the whole strut as I can't remove that nut, so will do the same on the other side too.

The front subframe is also showing its age, so ideally I'd get a replacement and refurb it and fit along with the springs and struts. A little apprehensive though as I'm now on the 3rd replacement suspension arm on the drivers side, they don't seem to last well, but the passenger side is still the original. So I'd rather not replace that with a part that I'll end up changing again in a year or 2. So can't decide whether to leave alone until the passenger side arm gives up, or take my chances, fit a refurbed subframe, and hope the new part lasts a decent amount of time

Main purpose of this post is, buying all new parts for the strut from Rimmers, gets quite expensive, so can anyone think of a way of removing the seized nut from the old strut, so that I can reuse some of the rubber gaiter parts on the new strut?

And secondly, months ago I priced up for new wheel arch liners and fixings etc, I'm now looking in the basket and there are some plastic nuts, but I can't think where they are for? Does anyone know? This is the link to the part: https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-CYH10001L

There's 4 or 5 of those plastic nuts in each of the rear wheel arch liners, from memory. Don't think there are any in the front ones, as they're held on on with little plastic rivet screws, but the rears use the plastic studs which are screwed onto threaded steel tangs in the arch.


p.s. Try soaking the seized nut in PlusGas for a few days before giving it another go (or, use some heat if you got the kit and the skills).


Cheers,
Karl.

Ah that'll be it, I was pricing up for all 4 wheel arches, but it's only really the fronts that need replacing, so I can remove those nuts from the order.

Last time before we tried to do the strut top bearing I'd been spraying plusgas on it twice a day, so I don't think that's likely to work.
I do have a blowtorch, and it doesn't matter about damaging the thread as the strut will be replaced, it's just the gaiters and things I want to reuse, so once the nut is off I can take all the other bits off and clean them up to swap over.

If you are replacing the shock , either grip the shaft with some grips or compress the spring so there's no tension and cut the shaft.

The bonus of having the subframe off the car is it is so much easier to build up , ie anti roll bar bushes and those 2 bolts on the rear of the arms are a doddle to tighten up.
I would change the arms knowing it's all nice and tight and new.

Stan

The mole grips were tried last time, and didn’t work. Hadn’t thought of cutting it though. If I can get my dremel repaired, that might be the way forward.

I'm guessing but I think the shaft would be some kind of hardened steel so you might need a bigger dremel :eek:

Stan

Yes.
 

Drill down through the nut either side of the strut and split it with a fine point cold chisel, a careful and steady hand will not damage the threads either.

You're more than welcome to drop us a message if there's anything we can help with - we've invested massively in the 75 / ZT over the last few years, and have an awful lot of stuff on the shelf. :)