# Strut top stuck

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/strut-top-stuck/60698>\
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\
**Created:** [January 4, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/strut-top-stuck/60698 "2009-01-04T06:00:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rushman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@rushman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rushman)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/strut-top-stuck/60698/1 "2009-01-04T06:00:29Z")

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I’m helping a friend replace the rear struts on his POS 94ish escort. We removed one rear strut, compressed the spring, removed the top nut. Now, the stop strut mount/rubber isolator is stuck… won’t move. We tried a sledge hammer, nada, nothing. I don’t have good access to the strut piston to just cut it off with my chop saw.

Anyone have any advice (safeish please, we’re working with a compressed spring still on there).

The strut piston is rotating so twisting isn’t an option, the piston is too hard and smooth to get a lock on with vice grips. The spring is suprisingly in good shape so we’d love to preserve everything but the strut itself.

I may compress the spring even more so I can just cut the strut piston to give us more freedom to get the top mount off, like a press or something really inventive 😉

Thanks.

I’m talking about part #4 in this image:  
 ![http://econtent.autozone.com:24991/znetrgs/repair_guide_content/en_us/images/0900c152/80/08/df/d3/small/0900c1528008dfd3.jpg](http://econtent.autozone.com:24991/znetrgs/repair_guide_content/en_us/images/0900c152/80/08/df/d3/small/0900c1528008dfd3.jpg)

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**Author:** ![fairgentleman\_Z](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fairgentleman_z/32/7263_2.png) [@fairgentleman\_Z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fairgentleman_Z)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/strut-top-stuck/60698/2 "2009-01-04T06:25:56Z")

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Can you bolt #4 back into the car and have access to hit the top of the strut with a small sledge hammer?

If you have to remove the spring compressor.

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**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 7:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/strut-top-stuck/60698/3 "2009-01-04T07:04:27Z")

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if i remember correctly you should just take the center nut off, pull the assembly off of the car, switch shocks then put it back together. i changed all 4 shocks on my old 94 escort in 05 so its been a while.

or

release tension and put the center nut back in, undo the bottom bolt from the trailing arm or whatever, take the two out side bolts off then just pull/rock/wiggle/yank the strut assembly out of there. you dont need the spring compressor till its out of the car

and to grip the shock try a piece of tire side wall (like 1"x3") then vice grip that. i usually do that if i am saving the strut. if not get real vise grips with good sharp teeth, they will dig in