How to change shocks and struts?

[jbach36]

I saw on the DIY area about someone who changed their front struts. Theirs was a different model than mine, and needed an allen wrench in the middle, and they used a box wrench on the big nut on the outside. On mine, I don't see that, they appear to be hollow, no place for an allen wrench.

I turned the outer nut, 7/8 in size, so it's pretty big. Even if it did take an allen wrench in the middle, I don't have a box wrench that big, so I wouldn't be able to take it off anyways.

I'm using a ratchet wrench on it. It was hard to get moving, but I did so, and am turning, and turning, and turning, and turning, and turning, .... and not getting anywhere. What's the secret to getting this top nut off the front struts?

Later, I might have questions about the rear shocks, who knows!

Thanks,

jeff 1991 300d, 147k