So I was a tad lazy last night while I was swapping out springs as it happens. But when it came time to pull them apart I notice kia has the not so normal to myself strut tool of key way what ever word you'd like to use. Figured I'd toss this out if it'll help anyone. Again. It was late and yea haha. But if it works it ain't stupid right??? So I had some spare .030" flux wire laying around from spare spools or whatever. I happened to notice a 8mm Allen fits damn close. But a tad loose. So I ended up just sliding some peaces of the flux in the open slots and taped it to the allen. I first started with a peace on all six sides of the 8mm Allen but noticed it woulda been kinda a pain so pulled one back and we'll yea it worked great. Hopefully someone needs it or just be smart and not half asleep like me ha. See pics. Again I'm sure there's a better way (like the tool) but being almost 3am and yea.
Eibach spring tip.. maybe.. ha
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NS_Stinger
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In this case I would've use a pair of vice grips on the bit on a 90 degree angle.
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Volfy
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BTW, I know some folks loosen that nut with the strut still in the car and just use a floor jack under the strut to relieve the spring tension. If you choose to do that, just know that spring has an enormous amount of stored energy stored in the preload. Personally, I wouldn't risk it. But we are all grown adults and can manage our own safety concerns.
I do it by removing the strut with spring intact. Secure the strut on a vise is best, but you could lay it on the ground with the top of the strut pointing AWAY from you). Compress the spring with a good set of spring compressor. Harbor Freight sells one for $35. Then, just hit the top nut with a pneumatic impact wrench. With no spring tension on the top plate, that nut will spin out in 2 seconds.
I do it by removing the strut with spring intact. Secure the strut on a vise is best, but you could lay it on the ground with the top of the strut pointing AWAY from you). Compress the spring with a good set of spring compressor. Harbor Freight sells one for $35. Then, just hit the top nut with a pneumatic impact wrench. With no spring tension on the top plate, that nut will spin out in 2 seconds.
Snowwhite
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i'm one of those nuts that loosen the top nut with the strut still in the car. If you're going to join the crazy club, make sure the knuckle is firmly on the jack, and what I do is compress it up a bit, loosen the nut, then s-l-o-w-l-y lower the jack.
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Volfy
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Yeah, you do have to compress the spring a good bit to relief most of the tension off the top plate. That pumps even more stored energy into the spring. In this case, all that store energy is held down only by the weight of the car... tip-toeing on a single floor jack.
Good that you made it work. All I can say is... you are a braver man than me.
BIG-D
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I did the same ... unfortunately I had to leave it as was in my garage for a day while I contemplated my actions
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Snowwhite
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I never removed the upper spring mount. that stayed attached to the fender.
Yea. I guess I could of went to the parts store at 3am to get the correct tool. Not sure why I didn't think of that haha j/k. Yea didn't have the tool so I improvised. I had it set up in a press for r&r of the springs. I don't like to leave it in the car as it's a tad hard to see the shock shaft to verify it's not spinning and going to burn up the seal. But yea I just zipped it off on the floor. Surprisingly it didn't have as much stored energy as I thought it would do to previous change outs. But either way they got swapped out and now I no longer look like a pre-runner ha.
