installing springs - oops

[nicholas421]

i was trying to install H&R springs over the weekend. after several agonizing hours (thanks to an oversized coil compressor) i managed to get the front driver's side spring in. as i was tightening the bolt on top of the bilstein with a wrench in one hand and an allen wrench in the other, i accidentally "wripped" the allen wrench opening. now i can't tighten OR remove the bolt! am i screwed? can an impact wrench be the solution? will i have to replace my bilstein altogether? are you following any of this?

[This message has been edited by nicholas421 (edited 23 September 2002).]

 

[Sensei]

I think I understand...in other words you are unable to hold the rod from spinning with the allen wrench you were using? Are you using metric allen wrenches?
After you finish installing everything lower the car on it's wheels and spray lubricant on the top nut. Use an impact, using short quick bursts, and hopefully it
will tighten up. With the weight of the car on the dampers the rod won't spin as easily. Bounce the front end up and down to help the suspension settle, you may want to ask someone to try pushing down at the same time you hit the impact trigger.

Choritsu-shi

 

[matteni]

I did this too. I had to have a shop take it off with an impact wrench and then used a special thread repair type tool to clean up the threads