Strap Wrench to hold shock shaft? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

feldy · 07-19-2017, 04:26 PM

I have a rounded koni 9mm nut preventing me from turning the cross nut holding the shock down. Any of you ever tried a strap wrench to hold the shaft still?

cjd · 07-19-2017, 04:48 PM

Yup, though not Koni. If it's not grabbing, twist it.

Rameus · 07-19-2017, 05:20 PM

I'm not familiar with the Koni design. If you want to use a strap wrench to hold the shaft from spinning my answer below applies. If you mean something else, I can't help.

I tried to hold the stock damper shafts from rotating using strap wrenches this past weekend actually. It can work but I found it to be a pretty big PITA. First of all, be careful not to scratch the damper shaft at all (my wrench handles are plastic, so I didn't have a big issue with this). Also, it can be difficult to hold up the dust covers and get the wrench through the spring coils at the same time. May not be an issue on your Koni setup, but on my stock rears I had to make a cut in the dust cover to get enough space to fit the wrench in. If using spring compressors, try to set them up in a way that you leave enough space between the spring coils for your wrench.

Also, despite my best efforts to get the strap wrench tight, I still couldn't stop the shaft from turning every time I operated my impact wrench. It would probably be best to carefully watch the shaft to see if its rotating just as you start wrenching, whether by ratchet or impact driver, to confirm its held tight. Readjust your wrench if you see the shaft slipping. I've learned my lesson and will just get pass through sockets next time.

Pat · 07-19-2017, 05:41 PM

I ran into the same issue. The instructions for the RCE T2s tell you to use a strap wrench. I'm not a great mechanic, but couldn't get it to work at all. Vorshlag published a video about this and suggested using an impact driver. That did the job for me. Search YouTube for it.

asdf · 07-19-2017, 05:55 PM

^ referenced rce instructions here: http://racecompengineering.com/instr...structions.pdf

churchx · 07-19-2017, 05:56 PM

Pat:

Pat · 07-19-2017, 05:59 PM

asdf: Yeah, I tried that. Didn't work for me. Maybe it's just my incompetence, though.
chruchx: Yep, that's the one. Thanks.

DarkSunrise · 07-19-2017, 09:11 PM

I had a hard time holding it with just a strap wrench as well. I applied some light pressure with pliers over the rubber strap and that was enough to keep the shaft from spinning.

FirstWinter · 07-20-2017, 03:02 AM

Instructions usually say strap wrench to prevent people from destroying their new dampers with an impact. However every shop I've been to uses an impact. You just gotta take it easy and be gentle with it otherwise you might as well just burn the money you spent on the coils. If you don't feel comfortable doing this then don't.

Not sure about Konis but is there a way to use pass through wrench in combination with another wrench to tighten the nut?

wparsons · 07-20-2017, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstWinter

Not sure about Konis but is there a way to use pass through wrench in combination with another wrench to tighten the nut?

Yes, but:

Quote:

Originally Posted by feldy

I have a rounded koni 9mm nut preventing me from turning the cross nut holding the shock down. Any of you ever tried a strap wrench to hold the shaft still?

feldy · 07-21-2017, 12:03 AM

Thanks for the response everyone. I'm currently trying to get in touch with the guys who made the hvt camber plates. If I can get a new concial nut from them Ill just use a angle grinder and cut the cross nut. Real Pain I tell ya

07-19-2017, 04:26 PM	#1
feldy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Drives: 2013 FRS Asphalt Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 1,155 Thanks: 309 Thanked 335 Times in 212 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Strap Wrench to hold shock shaft? I have a rounded koni 9mm nut preventing me from turning the cross nut holding the shock down. Any of you ever tried a strap wrench to hold the shaft still? __________________ 2013 Scion FR-S AT Picked up 5/30/2012

07-19-2017, 09:11 PM	#8
DarkSunrise Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 22 BRZ (Previously 13 FR-S) Location: USA Posts: 5,794 Thanks: 2,164 Thanked 4,242 Times in 2,220 Posts Mentioned: 48 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I had a hard time holding it with just a strap wrench as well. I applied some light pressure with pliers over the rubber strap and that was enough to keep the shaft from spinning. __________________ "Never run out of real estate, traction, and ideas at the same time." 2022 BRZ Build 2013 FR-S Build

07-21-2017, 12:03 AM	#11
feldy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Drives: 2013 FRS Asphalt Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 1,155 Thanks: 309 Thanked 335 Times in 212 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks for the response everyone. I'm currently trying to get in touch with the guys who made the hvt camber plates. If I can get a new concial nut from them Ill just use a angle grinder and cut the cross nut. Real Pain I tell ya __________________ 2013 Scion FR-S AT Picked up 5/30/2012

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07-19-2017, 05:20 PM	#3
Rameus Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Drives: 2015 FR-S Location: Toronto Posts: 28 Thanks: 7 Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I'm not familiar with the Koni design. If you want to use a strap wrench to hold the shaft from spinning my answer below applies. If you mean something else, I can't help. I tried to hold the stock damper shafts from rotating using strap wrenches this past weekend actually. It can work but I found it to be a pretty big PITA. First of all, be careful not to scratch the damper shaft at all (my wrench handles are plastic, so I didn't have a big issue with this). Also, it can be difficult to hold up the dust covers and get the wrench through the spring coils at the same time. May not be an issue on your Koni setup, but on my stock rears I had to make a cut in the dust cover to get enough space to fit the wrench in. If using spring compressors, try to set them up in a way that you leave enough space between the spring coils for your wrench. Also, despite my best efforts to get the strap wrench tight, I still couldn't stop the shaft from turning every time I operated my impact wrench. It would probably be best to carefully watch the shaft to see if its rotating just as you start wrenching, whether by ratchet or impact driver, to confirm its held tight. Readjust your wrench if you see the shaft slipping. I've learned my lesson and will just get pass through sockets next time.

07-19-2017, 05:55 PM	#5
asdf Loading...████████] 99% Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: #0517 Location: southern california Posts: 586 Thanks: 227 Thanked 251 Times in 171 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	^ referenced rce instructions here: http://racecompengineering.com/instr...structions.pdf

07-19-2017, 05:56 PM	#6
churchx Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Drives: 2014 GT86 Location: Latvia, Riga Posts: 4,333 Thanks: 696 Thanked 2,085 Times in 1,436 Posts Mentioned: 53 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Pat:

07-20-2017, 03:02 AM	#9
FirstWinter Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Drives: Car Location: Location Posts: 646 Thanks: 374 Thanked 422 Times in 254 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Instructions usually say strap wrench to prevent people from destroying their new dampers with an impact. However every shop I've been to uses an impact. You just gotta take it easy and be gentle with it otherwise you might as well just burn the money you spent on the coils. If you don't feel comfortable doing this then don't. Not sure about Konis but is there a way to use pass through wrench in combination with another wrench to tighten the nut?

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