Suspension Brakes Ohlins Road & Track Coilovers/Strut Nut Sockets?

Discussion in 'Tuning and Performance' started by Systemlord, Feb 17, 2015.

  1. Systemlord

    Systemlord New Member

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    #1 Systemlord, Feb 17, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2015
    2007 MCS

    My Ohlins Road & Track coilovers arrives tomorrow and I got myself in a pickle. Today I purchased a Craftsman 20-PC Go-Thru Ratchet set and it seems the 13/16th fits tightly around the strut nut, that's great for dis-assembly of the OEM struts. I'm going to need a strut nut sockets for the Ohlins 12mm (Rear) & 14mm (Front) according the Ohlins PDF. Does anyone know where I can buy strut nut sockets locally?

    Sears didn't have strut nut sockets. In order to install the Ohlins I need to find M14 & M12 strut nut sockets unless I can just guess that I come close to 29.5ft/lbs with my go-thur ratchet set.

    Appreciate any assistance!

    Look at how small, almost the same diameter as the shaft it goes onto.
     

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  2. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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  3. cristo

    cristo Well-Known Member

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    #3 cristo, Feb 17, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2015
  4. M1N1

    M1N1 Well-Known Member

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    #4 M1N1, Feb 17, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2015
    When I needed one of these in my VW-driving days, I bought a deep Craftsman socket of the correct size, slapped it into a Bridgeport mill and made my own. :Thumbsup: It's not perfect, but I needed it in a hurry and it worked.
     

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  5. Eric@Helix

    Eric@Helix New Member
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    How bout reverse the tools. Grab the outside of the correct socket with a strong pair of vise grips and hold the nut in place while you use the hex socket on the torque wrench through the back of the socket. Does that make sense?
     
  6. cristo

    cristo Well-Known Member

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    #6 cristo, Feb 17, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2015
    I've done that except I usually turn the nut with the vise grips unless the strut is
    off the car so I don't just spin the strut shaft. Once you're almost tightened up using
    the hex with the torque wrench to finalize it is ok. Can also grind a couple flats on the
    top of the socket to make it easier to grab. Can also use a spark plug socket of the
    correct size (if one exists for the nut size) as you can use a wrench on the top of it
    and put a hex tool through the hole or a 1/4" extension and a 1/4" drive hex socket
    inside it (sometimes have to drill the spark plug socket hole a tiny bit for some extensions
    to go through. Can sometimes use a 75 degree offset box wrench if there's room for it.
    It looks like there is on the Ohlin, but the stock strut bearing's hole is too small for that
    unless the wrench is very thin-walled.
     
  7. Systemlord

    Systemlord New Member

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    Maybe I don't understand you guys that well as I lack imagination, all I understand is when torquing both the M14/M12 top nut is I must have the 5mm Allen in the shaft to keep it from spinning with the top nut. To bad the Amazon can't be shipped here in time, my brother gave me all day Friday to borrow his garage and that's it. If I can't overnight by Thursday of the correct sizes game over I lose. Two days and counting to deadline, if I don't have the correct part by 4pm Thurday bust.
     
  8. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #8 MCS02, Feb 17, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2015
    Dam all the years I have just been tighten the crap out of them. I use the impact set to medium. It does it fast enough that the center shaft does not spin befor it's tight.
     
  9. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    Oops those are coilovers, sorry my bad
     
  10. cristo

    cristo Well-Known Member

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    #10 cristo, Feb 17, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2015
    Get a socket that fits the nut. Spark plug socket or one that you've ground flat spots
    into the top makes it easier, but if not, then get a big vice-grips and grip the top of
    the socket with that. Then put a 5 mm allen long enough to go through the drive hole
    of the socket and into the strut shaft. This can be a long allen socket or a long enough
    L shaped allen wrench or even one with a T-handle. Sometimes you can even fit a
    small 1/4" drive 5mm allen socket into the strut shaft and then put the nut shaft over
    that and engage the 5mm allen socket with a 1/4" drive 3" extension bar.

    In any case, you can hold the allen fixed with one hand and turn the nut socket via
    the vice grips' handle with the other. A good guess at 30 ft-lb by hand should suffice.

    If you get one of the Strut Nut Sockets with the cutout, it just makes it easier to do all this,
    by putting an L shaped allen wrench through the cutout and into the strut shaft.
     
  11. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #11 Metalman, Feb 17, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2015
    Systemlord......

    Lordy Lordy Lordy..... Grab Dat Wrench of Torque... Set it at 29.5 feet of pounds... Try it a few times on your wheel nuts..... Kinda get the feel of what 29.5 feels like.... Then wench it with a regular socket and a vice grips and your Allen key.... Get them installed and out of your brothers garage before Friday..... You'll be close enough on the setting.... Then when you have time, use the correct tool at a later date...

    Like this (but with the correct size socket)...

    And you know the torque can be applied to the allen wrench... right.... The socket just keeps the shaft from turning... Unless the wall of the allen (socket) is thin, be careful you don't damage the allen socket inside the shaft end...
    [​IMG]
     
  12. Systemlord

    Systemlord New Member

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    I wish I had a high powered laser. I'll know more when my Ohlins are delivered today, like what the actual size of the two strut nuts are.
     
  13. cristo

    cristo Well-Known Member

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    Or this:

    [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vOCcFB5eqg"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vOCcFB5eqg[/ame]
     
  14. Systemlord

    Systemlord New Member

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    Don't know how I missed you post.

    If I was to guess I would use my go-thru ratchet set to approximate 30 ft-lbs, not a bad idea until I get the proper tool. I'll still try like hell to find the tool and use your idea as a back-up plan.
     
  15. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Of course....

    Sounds like you are all set with the tools you have...
     
  16. Canusrufis

    Canusrufis RMW Powered R53
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    #16 Canusrufis, Feb 17, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2015
    I like this idea better. And if you're concerned about socket grip file some flats on the socket.

    http://www.motoringalliance.com/gallery/data/569/medium/DSCN07631.JPG
     
  17. Systemlord

    Systemlord New Member

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    Getting the Ohlins install is the easy part, torquing the strut nut is another. In my OP I mentioned that I purchased a go-thru ratchet set, this will allow me to insert the Allen wrench through the socket. Once UPS arrives I'll post the nuts specs and go from there, I hope they turn out to be the sizes ECS Tuning has in stock.
     

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  18. Systemlord

    Systemlord New Member

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    #18 Systemlord, Feb 17, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2015
    I received my Ohlins coilovers and will post pictures later, right now I'm trying to determine what size nuts these came with. The smaller of the two measures 17mm and the other 22mm. I can't locate any 17mm strut nut socket anywhere, so ECS Tuning only has half the parts I need.
     
  19. cristo

    cristo Well-Known Member

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    #19 cristo, Feb 17, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2015
    Does the go-through 17mm socket work? It should.
     
  20. Systemlord

    Systemlord New Member

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    #20 Systemlord, Feb 17, 2015
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    I don't understand what you mean by does the go-through 17mm socket work? The rear shock nut is 17mms and fits in the 17mm hallow socket just fine, but I won't be able to torque it. I can't torque the top nut using the go-thru ratchet and the 17mm go-thru socket and at the same time use a torque wrench. I can only assemble the coilovers using the go-thru ratchet and the 17mm go-thru socket, to properly torque the top nut I'll need a 5mm Allen and a strut nut socket which is hallow so I can torque it down while keeping the 5mm Allen wrench on the shaft to keep it from spinning with the top nut.
     

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