c spanner for top of front strut/shock

[Flat 6]

Hey all,

Hope you're all enjoying this fine motoring weather. I took my trusty old Spitfire out of storage so I could enjoy August and am now regretting it...

Anyway, onto matters Pork. I need to drop my front struts to remove and paint the shock top covers properly.

The c spanner is missing from my toolkit and the hinged one I have doesn't fit between the big washer and the bodywork. 

Remind me - is this the same tool as would be in the toolkit for fanbelt or would I need a different tool anyway? My memory is that bad I don't even remember what tool I used to do the same job on an earlier car only about 3 years ago...I did think that was why I'd bought the hinged one...

I'll buy the fan belt spanner anyway since it should be in the toolkit but I have a feeling the c spanner I need for the top mount has more of a square section where it grips the big washer?

Cheers,

Al.

[Flat 6]

Impact driver did the job. Probably what I did before, at least to get them off.
 

Question still stands.
 

While I’m here. On my RHS the notch for the c spanner points straight inwards which means it will be impossible to use the c spanner to retighten. Is that because the insert has been put in wrongly? These are green bilstein struts so presumably have bilstein inserts. I’ve only dealt with Boge struts at the front before but don’t bilstein inserts in bilstein struts have a fixing at the bottom? 
 

Alternatively, I may be a tube and the threaded top of the insert will turn to be in a position where a c spanner can be used...

Al.

[Flat 6]

Hmm, so the whole upper part of the shock turns. Guess there’s no reason why it shouldn’t...only the lower part is pinned?

[GrahamTompkins]

50 minutes ago, Flat 6 said:

Hmm, so the whole upper part of the shock turns. Guess there’s no reason why it shouldn’t...only the lower part is pinned?

From memory yes it will 

[angusb]

If you mean will a Fan Belt Spanner fit the front shock absorber - not a chance. If your fan spanner is missing then would suggest  try Matt (type 911) first.

From memory , there are two special tools required for front shocks, fabricate a old socket with a piece of metal facing inwards,the width equal to the slot of the gap in the shock stud rod,this will prevent the the stud from turning whist the lock nut is slackened.The washer is just that ,despite shape, it is not designed to counter hold the the stud when undoing.

The C hook spanner is used to remove the shock  from the front strut, you can either make one from a piece of flat bar, or search flea bay for suitable size generic.

 

[Baz]

Chris if you have an electric or pneumatic impact wrench that should spin the nut off, bit of oil on the threads first.

Baz 

[sopor]

Big water pump pliers.

[Flat 6]

Hey all,

Who's Chris? 

Job done a month ago. Impact driver whipped them off. I had a hinged c-spanner that held the big top 'washer' while the top nut was torqued to spec. Pretty straightforward in the end. I can see how a tool to grab the top of the threaded shock top would also work but that top washer is plenty strong enough to hold the bar for torqu'ing up.

Front inner wing cleanup nearly complete. Will post some pics shortly. 

Al.