Noob with a lift problem (top strut plate stuck)

[1st Timer]

So I've been looking around this forum and 120 a lot. After a long while thought it was time to lift my 03. After tearing a part my following the steps in a thread on 120 I found out with the bottom bolt and all 3 nuts off the top my strut assembly will not "wiggle" out. After getting a little worked up and a few wackes with a ford tool (hammer), i went the route of removing the shock and spring. the top plate or whatever the proper name for it is still stuck. Rusted in I guess. Oh the benefits of living in Ohio with salt. :cry2: Has anyone ever had this problem? Am I the only one who has came across this?

 

[stonec3po]

I'm searching for an answer myself, same problem here in CT! Thing will not budge and looks as if it may crumble apart before it comes off. Last attempt will be a torch, will let you know of the results.

 

[diamondplate]

I had the same issue a couple weeks ago. I used a bigger ford tool. I think I may have used a pry bar in there too.
good luck!

 

[Dougtoms01]

So I've been looking around this forum and 120 a lot. After a long while thought it was time to lift my 03. After tearing a part my following the steps in a thread on 120 I found out with the bottom bolt and all 3 nuts off the top my strut assembly will not "wiggle" out. After getting a little worked up and a few wackes with a ford tool (hammer), i went the route of removing the shock and spring. the top plate or whatever the proper name for it is still stuck. Rusted in I guess. Oh the benefits of living in Ohio with salt. :cry2: Has anyone ever had this problem? Am I the only one who has came across this?

Are you saying you loosened the center nut that compresses the coil spring to get the spring and shock out and the top mount plate with the 3 studs is stuck inside the mount? I just did mine last week, 2008 but it came right out. I guess it has to be rusted together in there. Try spraying some rust buster penetrating oil in there and maybe a piece of 2x4 to hammer against the 3 studs downwards. Hopefully it will pop right out. There was a rubber isolator at the top to keep metal/metal contact apart? See picture. Keep us posted. Once you get everything apart, be sure to take the time to deal with the rust. Rust coonvertor and paint with truck bed liner before reassembling.
Keep us posted. Best regards, Doug

 

[stonec3po]

Liquid Wrench over night may or may not have helped. Also if you angle a large flat head right under a screw aiming from the bottom with the goal of prying it out and then beat the crap out of it for a few minutes the thing finally came off!! Air tools and rust converter and I'll be putting it right back on with the new spacers, thanks for the help everyone

 

[Gotmilk9579]

So I've been looking around this forum and 120 a lot. After a long while thought it was time to lift my 03. After tearing a part my following the steps in a thread on 120 I found out with the bottom bolt and all 3 nuts off the top my strut assembly will not "wiggle" out. After getting a little worked up and a few wackes with a ford tool (hammer), i went the route of removing the shock and spring. the top plate or whatever the proper name for it is still stuck. Rusted in I guess. Oh the benefits of living in Ohio with salt. :cry2: Has anyone ever had this problem? Am I the only one who has came across this?

Having this same problem. In fact my mechanic down here in Texas is having the problem. He spent 2 hours trying to take the first strut off today (it's a northern truck) without any luck. Did you try applying eat or anything? Would be interested to know how you managed to get the plate off.

 

[NeutronJon]

I had mine replaced about 1.5 years ago (118k miles on a salty rust bucket from NY). I was doing a RAS conversion to FJ springs and removing XREAS at the same time. I got the rear done fine, but could not get the struts out. Finally, I bolted it up and took it to the shop. I explained my situation to the manager and he quoted me a price. Two days later they called me to pick it up and said it took their senior suspension tech all day with an air hammer to knock them loose. They cleaned it up with a wire brush on a rotary tool and painted the underside again before reassembly.

The managers quote was far too low for the actual hours it took, but he stood by the initial quote. It turned out to be the best deal I could have gotten.

Good luck.

 

[dgmorr]

So I've been looking around this forum and 120 a lot. After a long while thought it was time to lift my 03. After tearing a part my following the steps in a thread on 120 I found out with the bottom bolt and all 3 nuts off the top my strut assembly will not "wiggle" out. After getting a little worked up and a few wackes with a ford tool (hammer), i went the route of removing the shock and spring. the top plate or whatever the proper name for it is still stuck. Rusted in I guess. Oh the benefits of living in Ohio with salt. :cry2: Has anyone ever had this problem? Am I the only one who has came across this?

I tried a prybar and hammer but gave up after a couple hits. Went straight for the air hammer and even that took at least 10 seconds of work. All 4 corners required this for me.

 

[Inv4drZm]

I rounded off the back nut and cut down through it with a dremel cut-off wheel (or two) so the nut came off in two halves. Took 20 minutes. I replaced the whole thing with a new coilover though so I'm not sure how much you want to save (though with it being frozen on there there probably isn't much you want to keep). Should be pretty easy to cut through the front nuts and studs with a sawzall though.

 

[Nickortizzle1035]

i had to beat the fever loving crap out of mine with a 5lb hammer and a chisel, with plenty of pb blaster. they came out after about 5 minutes of pounding.

 

[camp332]

I tried a prybar and hammer but gave up after a couple hits. Went straight for the air hammer and even that took at least 10 seconds of work. All 4 corners required this for me.

Amen to the air hammer. Needed this for replacing shocks/struts all 4 corners on my 08.