Strut top, with nut attached, broken off--need advice

[Probable Cause]

I'll spare you the details of how it happened, but it's all my fault, and there's nothing I can do about it now, so here I am. I need to replace a strut that is on the car with no top nut to hold the spring.

As the title says, the strut top nut is gone, as is the top of the strut and all exposed threads. As it sits now, the front of the car is on jackstands and wheels are off, so no real load on anything (besides any spring tension that remains), but frankly, I am not sure why the spring didn't push the strut and everything down further. I cannot see anything binding; it's like there is something else holding the spring/strut together besides that top nut. This is a surprise to me vs. other struts I have worked with. The unknown is what makes me nervous. So, I came here for help.

Since this happened, I did place a jack under the control arm where the strut attaches, just in case...but when I pop the upper ball joint out, etc. I need to know what pitfalls lie ahead when that top nut is not installed.

Any advice on changes to the usual strut removal procedure? I'm thinking I need to put the spring compressor on first as a precaution, but I'm not sure I can get the spring and compressor to slide out of the upper A-arm together...anyone else been there, done that?

Thanks

[Cam]

The knuckle is what's holding it together right now. And if you pop the ball joint, your screwed. You'll have to cut the spring to get it out. Your right about needing to use a spring compressor right now before you pop the ball joint. Other than that, a new shock will fix your issue.

[Hemi31]

Put a jack under the lower control arm and put pressure on it.Make sure the lower strut bolt is tightened.You can then seperate the upper ball joint and lower the jack slowly.....that will let the tension off the spring as the jack lowers and you can remove it safely.If you are uncomfortable doing that put a spring compressor on it first.

[Cam]

Put a jack under the lower control arm and put pressure on it.Make sure the lower strut bolt is tightened.You can then seperate the upper ball joint and lower the jack slowly.....that will let the tension off the spring as the jack lowers and you can remove it safely.If you are uncomfortable doing that put a spring compressor on it first.

The spring will expand too much to get out. The first time I went to replace my suspension, I did it this way..............life sucked.

[Hemi31]

The spring will expand too much to get out. The first time I went to replace my suspension, I did it this way..............life sucked.

Shouldn't ....Tony did his whole suspension that way.He might have to push down on the lower control arm and get the hat out of the way once the tension is off though.

[Cam]

Shouldn't ....Tony did his whole suspension that way.He might have to push down on the lower control arm and get the hat out of the way once the tension is off though.

Well hell then, give it a shot and let us know if it works

[OLJustice]

Im usually the one asking questions but i have a bit of experience when it comes to this topic. Erik is right. the spring will expand but he should still have enough slack to get the strut out of there. just detach the brake line from its clip so you will have enough slack to work with. you'll have to pull down on that knuckle quite a bit to get the room... which may be difficult without the leverage that working on a lift affords... but you can definitely get it out of there.

personally, I would use a small spring compressor and make life easy for myself before doing this.

Posted via LXFMobile

[Probable Cause]

Thanks for the replies. The spring compressor helped a lot and it cleared the upper A-arm with no trouble.