i posted this in diesel forums but no luck...i cant get the hydro strut off...help!
 

its the rear on an 83 300td and its the brass saucer shaped connection with the rubber bushing/washer under it...the saucer has a flat alan wrench screw in the middle of it that is definetely gonna strip if i try to remove it (im pretty sure its not frozen or rusted...it just feels like its not meant to be undone somehow)...anuyone have experiance with these?...

Ahh yes the newbies, welcome aboard. We need a couple of things. You mentioned its a 300TD. This is a wagon? Correct?. Not a sedan turbo.
Second. We need to know what part you are talking about? is it the suspension strut? or exactly what part are we working on here.
If it is an Allen bolt head then first make sure it is completely clean and the Allen is seated correctly--- meaning deep. Make sure it is the correct METRIC size Allen tool.

Let us know what part were working on and we can give our advise.

Dave

thanks...yes its the wagon
 

and its the rear hydropneumatic suspension strut... in my wanderings ive seen some that are conected by regular bolt assembly...but it seems the 83's and above have this brass saucer thingy fitting....sorry if im vague but if youve seen this at all youll know exactly what im talking about....its the top of the strut and you access it through the inside of the car behind the back seat

Ok, now I understand, and yes I have seen it during my 1982 300TD wagon complete suspension rebuild, front and rear. :D
I have done a few things on W123's


I would again go with my advise as posted. Make sure the allen wrench is the correct size. Some "cheap" tools are not quite up to specs at times, I know I have lots of them. If you have access to an impact wrench it may work well for you. An impact wrench will provide the short, strong bursts that could do the job and not strip it.

Dave

okay i got the damn thing off
 

it was just really stuck (both were) i just got a chisel and made a grove and pounded it around