top mount bolt help please

just got a complete new german made lowering suspension kit ( ?110 off ebay ) rears havnt been a problem fitting, but stuck on the fronts
how do you undo the bolt in the centre of the top mount as the strut just spins as you turn it, is there any quick way of doing it without any special tools ?
thanks in advance guys

Use an allen key at the top of the shock and a spanner on the bolt.

Yeah and it has to be a swan neck spanner. 22mm

thanks wvw, did stick a screw driver in there as it was full of gunk, didnt realize it was a allen key head

:wink:

The bolt will be really tight and you will struggle even with a swan neck/ring spanner and hex head tool on another wrench. However, you can buy a 12V impact wrench quite cheaply from Machine Mart and it really helps with this kind of job, and a lot of other areas too.

Just my 2p.

Another option is to nip to your local garage and ask them to undo the tightness of the nuts with an air wrench, then do them up a little bit so you can drive it home, and unbolt once you're home.

just my luck, i brought a new ?260 18v dewalt combi drill last week, did look at buying a ryobi 18v with free impact wrench for ?100, but they dont last long, take ages to charge etc but the free wrench did look appealing, should have got it. doh

paul_c does have a point, but, as you have done the backs already, you might want to have a go at the fronts yourself.  I did mine not long ago (and have done others before) and they came off pretty easily considering the state of my suspension at the time.

wvw said

paul_c does have a point, but, as you have done the backs already, you might want to have a go at the fronts yourself.  I did mine not long ago (and have done others before) and they came off pretty easily considering the state of my suspension at the time.

Mine were a right pain and I tried it with regular hands tools, quickly realising it wasn't going to budge! Then I used the power tool and it worked great. I guess, different cars will vary though.

If you are binning the inserts you can put some mole grips through the springs and grip the strut. Worked for me anyway...

well as i had the offside shock already off, i took it into the local tyre fitters who had the top mount undone in seconds, got it back and built up the new one and fitted it no probs. then i started on the nearside one which is even worse as one of the 13mm bolts holding the top of the mount to the wing is spinning as i try to undo the nut
going to angle grind it off tomorrow as i am replacing the top mount anyway, unless anyone has any better ideas ???

hack saw sticky out bit of bolt off and drill out. if you angle grind you'll end up either slipping and gouging paint or some important wire/pipe and also spray the windscreen with red hot sparks that will melt into the glass and go rusty

cheers sounds like a better idea, i was going to cover the complete area before grinding but will try that 1st