shaft1

I'm in the process of replacing my strut rods on my '99 LS. I got all the bolts off except for the nut that is holding the sway bar end link (top nut) . I can turn the nut with a lot of resistance but it never gets loose. Feels like my doing damage on the sway bar end link if I keep on turning it. I've soaked it with PB blaster and also added a lot of heat to the nut. Still would not budge.

Any tricks you guys can suggest? It seems pretty straight forward process. Please help. Thank you.

Banshee365

You must hold the shaft with a hex bit. Look at the top of the end link threaded shaft. It's a 4mm-6mm allen. I can't recall the exact size. Try to use a quality hex bit rather than an Allen key.

You would have been much better off not putting heat to the end link. Hopefully you didn't tear up the boot or degrade the grease inside.

sndlight

Had to cut mine off with an angle grinder and cut off wheel. It was too rusted for a hex key to hold. they were starting to wear out anyway.

dicer

And some times if you can pry it into the taper with a 2x4 and hold it then use an impact wrench to turn it. I just now did that on a Mercedes I'm working on.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

that's a great way to damage the taper and the stud.

for these cars the correct method is as stated, using a hex key and a combination wrench.

shaft1

Thank you all for the quick response. Finally got the nut off...........boy did I not feel dumb -- I'm not sure why I did not notice the key hole. I was surprised that this method was not mentioned on all the online tutorial I've read. I guess it's just common knowledge. Again thank you for the help.

dicer

I agree about the internal hex Pur, as long as 1 there is one there and 2 it isn't messed up and the Allen wrench will fit it. On the car I was working on that joint did not have a hex. And that is the thing about taper stick it tight and hold its not going to turn, I have never messed a taper up doing that and besides how can a taper ruin a taper? Yeah if it got galled up or friction welded that would take a long of effort to do. Also since the car I was working on used lock nuts that made it worse. Go watch the so called professionals do it.