Arghhh! Now I ran into another frustration. After I put it all together, lowered the car, I wanted to tighten down the top strut nuts as instructed in the manual. The instructions basically read: 17 NM, using a 5 mm wrench to keep piston from turning.

I think that manual was written by the brothers Grimm: A fairy tale. There is no place to counterhold with a 5 mm wrench on the replacement OEM strut, and nor is there on the original strut. There is a screwdriver slot, but has anyone ever tried holding the piston rod with a screwdriver while tightening the nut? I tried. Round and round it went.

So did I now ruin my new struts? How can I tourque them down correctly, or should I come up with my own fairy tale: Once the rod turns, you're at 17 nm?

__________________
Henry Bofinger
1989 560 SEL (black/black)
2001 Audi TT Roadster (silver/grey)