I'm replacing the struts on my son's 2008 SS.

I did this before on a few 1LT HHRs but can't remember what I did.

How do you tighten the nut at the end of the strut shaft? It's a 21mm nut with a T-45 Torx in the end of the shaft to hold it.

The nut is down deep into a recess in the strut mount so you can't put a wrench on it.

I am thinking a deep 21mm socket held with vise grips while using a long T-45 torx wrench sticking up out of the socket hole.

Is there some special tool for this? A sharply 90 degree offset box wrench?



Steve

 

I tightened those nuts after I put the cars weight on the suspension, used my 21 mm deep socket and torque wrench.

 

Air impact gun. They make a tool that is a 21mm socket with a hole in the top for a torx to go down. spanner plus torx.

 

If my memory is working, it’s a 6 mm Allen wrench and that thru socket wrench

 

The AC Delco SS strut has a T-45 Torx in the shaft.

Steve

 

Oh, I forgot, your working on that SS , yes T45

 

Fwiw. When I installed the Pedders springs years ago, I just used a strut spring compressor and an impact gun to take them apart and then reassemble.
( I know some may disagree with this method since I didn't "torque" it down to specs.)

 

I’m inclined to agree with the impact gun.

 

This is what I ended up doing:



I had a 21mm deep-offset box wrench which fit into the recess in the strut mount.

Yes, the wrench is cut off halfway down the handle (there was a 23mm at the other end) because I needed it to fit into a short space for the 21mm engine cradle nut.

It worked pretty well this way.

Steve

 

A new double service 21 mm , the cradle nuts and the strut nuts! Bonus!