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Old 12-12-2005, 10:52 AM
DCF DCF is offline
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 193
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in SC
Photo of the top of strut below. 1999 ML 320 build date of June of 1999, (one of the last 1999's made before the factory shut down and tooled up for the 2000 model).

The sides of the top of shaft have 2 flat sides, so you would have to use an adjustable wrench or something. I did not use any counterhold. You can see the grease and dirty on the sides of the shaft, indicating no tool had been placed there.

I used a Snap On 1/2 drive IM6500HP impact wrench. That nut just came right off.
That is not the nut he is talking about, he is talking about the one on the bottom of the strut that holds it to the wishbone. You need to hold the bottom stud in order to get it out, as the stud is part of the creaking ball joint, and just spins if it is not held, as the spring exerts no pressure on it. I had the exact same problem with mine, only instead of stripping out the torx tools, I stripped the stud! I ended up cutting it with a hacksaw blade (blade only, no handle as it is tight quarters in that area) and suing a flat blade screwdriver along with a tourch to heat it up. Worst case scenario, you can drill out the stud and crush the nut to get it out. Just be careful not to damage the wishbone.
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