Bartman Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 I've searched and found a lot of people had trouble removing the gland nuts from their struts (luckily I was able to remove mine fairly easily). What I haven't found is how to install new ones. I am in the process of putting my front suspension back together and the front gland nuts need to be torqued down. The service manual talks about a special tool for this, but I was wondering if I could get by without this special tool. As always, any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 Just use a pipe wrench. Be sure to hand thread the gland nut as far as you can as it is easy to cross thread. Use the search button as there has been a lot written about the gland removal. I did research on the special gland wrench and it cost over $100.00. If you find one cheap please post the info here. Miles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COZY Z COLE Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 Good link for struts and he also indicates a 24 inch pipe wrench can be used. http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/suspension/frontstruts/index.html LARRY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartman Posted December 5, 2004 Author Share Posted December 5, 2004 What I'm trying to figure out is how to torque the gland nut. I can tighten it with a pipe wrench, but how can i torque it correctly? The link doesn't mention how to get 45 ft lbs. of torque using a pipe wrench. Do you just guesstimate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruxGNZ Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 The link doesn't mention how to get 45 ft lbs. of torque using a pipe wrench. Do you just guesstimate? Pretty much. If you have used a torque wrench for some time, you will know what 45 lbs. feels like. If you haven't, then really snug the gland nut down, but don't put so much force on it that you are turning red in the face. If the gland nut bottoms out, then throw a washer(s) in the bottom of the strut tube. !M! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 Got some dumbell weights? Hang 22.5 pounds on the end of a 24" pipe wrench, or 30 pounds on a 18" wrench, or 45 pounds on a 12" (1 foot) wrench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2126 Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 Bartman, Just one word of caution! Protect the chromed strut shaft....in the event your wrench slips off while you are tightening the gland nut. Dings in the shaft will = leaks and insert replacement. There's just not much of a wrench flat on these gland nuts, so be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartman Posted December 7, 2004 Author Share Posted December 7, 2004 Thanks for all the replies! I got one installed Sunday, and I was careful not to damage the strut cartridge shaft. I also: Cleaned up my lower perch removal cut to allow the top of the adjustable coilover sleeve to sit just below the gland nut.Added ATF to the strut before installing cartridgeEnsured that the gland nut to top of strut cartirdge was within spec (The tokico's came with spec's, somewhere around .05" I believe) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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