Strut safety question

[dragonsung]

I changed my front struts about 8 months ago. reused rubber bits as they where good. I messed up one of the top strut bushing metal washers that spread the torque over the bushing. I replaced with a regular washer as a temp fix. I knew it was going to kill the bushing.

Anyway the bushing is cracked. I now have a replacement top bushing and washer.

The safety question is: With the strut mounted is it safe to remove the center nut to replace the top piece of the bushing and washer.

Will i be able properly torque the nut with it installed?

Thanks for your time.

edit: To be clear I am talking about the metal piece the center nut sets on and the bushing the metal piece sits on.

[steelbluesleepR]

Are you talking about the metal piece and the bushing above or below the tophat?

also, our cars have shocks, not struts.

[deevergote]

I wouldn't risk it. Remove the shock and spring assembly, use spring compressors, and remove the nut the correct way (be sure to wear protective eyewear.) Yes, it's a pain in the ass... but cutting corners can result in a situation that's even less pleasant to deal with!
Since you just changed them, you clearly know the process already, and all the bolts should come out with ease. It'll be a 30 minute job from start to finish.

[cp[mike]]

this is an excellent question and I wish I knew the answer.

I SUSPECT that you can probably remove the top nut if the weight of the car is currently sitting in place, holding the spring compressed under the weight.. If you have it jacked up off the ground, definitely not.

I think I am going to try this on my CRV. I plan on replacing the shocks/springs in a couple days so I don't care if the old ones pop apart. It would be cool if they can be "separated" while still on the car. Would be even cooler if the weight of the car could be used for reinstallation, too...

Anyway if you figure anything out, let us know. But when in doubt, choose the safer method and just drop the strut quick, its only a few bolts.

p.s. - don't listen to me, this might be dangerous advice, lol

[sonikaccord]

So being that I actually have done this somewhat*, as long as your shock is in the fork and your car is on the ground it "should" work...in theory of course. I wouldn't recommend it.

*By somewhat, I mean that I have removed that top screw with the shock not seated in the fork AND the car lifted, but the top hat still bolted to the car (pretty much everything cp[mike] said not to do). The spring de compresses with a pretty good amount of force when the nut was removed. Definitely enough to break your face if you happened to be standing in front of it. I imagine the vehicle would prevent that from happening.

[Vermonter]

Good rule of thumb is to always err to safety. If you have to ask the question, then more than likely you're just looking for permission to do something unsafe. (Or at least that's what I find myself doing). If it were me, I'd wait until I can find the time to take the assembly out and do it properly.