XC90 remove rear strut

Pretribrapper · Post by **Pretribrapper** » 30 Jun 2019, 17:32

Doing my rear struts on the XC90. It is a 2011 V8. I am completely stuck. I could not get the nut to come lose on top inside the vehicle. I did get it to turn but the whole assembly turns I dont have a deep enough pass thru socket to be able to get a star key up top to try to hold the piston and break the nut free. I also dont have a tool to cut off the nut that is small enough to get I to the access hole. Any ideas on what to use? If it has to be cut is that a bad idea since passenger side seems to be near fuel tank door... I am new to the rear strut removal but there has to be a simpler way to get this out. The bottom bolts come out fine just the top ones have an issue. Please help. See attached pic. Thx

Post by **MoVolvos** » 30 Jun 2019, 18:06

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If the shock cover is plastic you could potentially cut it and put a pair of vise grips on the piston and use a socket on top. Before that lubricate and let it sit for a day. It you have a torch heat it first then lubricate after it cools. Regardless you'll need something to hold the shock piston from below if you can't use the Torx on top.

https://www.volvopartswebstore.com/show ... veLine=509

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: 2011 XC90 V8 Shocks.png (182.64 KiB) Viewed 3409 times

Masscomguru · Post by **Masscomguru** » 30 Jun 2019, 18:46

You could try holding the socket externally with a pair of vice grips and get the Allen wrench through the top.

wanderdüne · Post by **wanderdüne** » 01 Jul 2019, 09:06

This is my thread from when I did this:
https://forums.swedespeed.com/showthrea ... Experience

Pretribrapper · Post by **Pretribrapper** » 06 Jul 2019, 07:00

So far I got the plastic cut and the bottom bolt removed but I cant do anything the grab the piston. I tried vise grips and the piston just turns inside the vise grips, I tried an 8" and 10" monkey wrench and they don't grab the piston and I am unable to get my grinder in between the spring coils to cut notches. Any other ideas on how to hold the piston so I can get the nut to turn up top?
Thanks for all of your help.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 06 Jul 2019, 09:25

Pretribrapper wrote: ↑06 Jul 2019, 07:00 So far I got the plastic cut and the bottom bolt removed but I cant do anything the grab the piston. I tried vise grips and the piston just turns inside the vise grips, I tried an 8" and 10" monkey wrench and they don't grab the piston and I am unable to get my grinder in between the spring coils to cut notches. Any other ideas on how to hold the piston so I can get the nut to turn up top?
Thanks for all of your help.

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Try wrapping it with sand paper and then vise grip from the bottom. Double fold so paper is on both sides, wrench and piston. If possible from the top grind away one side of the nut?

Post by **SuperHerman** » 06 Jul 2019, 13:23

I did mine with a vice grip on top and a box wrench with offset. All from above.

As you are replacing the unit - ruining the original is not an issue. Have you tried using air? Tighten your vice grip more - maybe use two vice grips - and try air again with the vice grips if you have it.

Pretribrapper · Post by **Pretribrapper** » 09 Jul 2019, 08:29

UPDATE- Finally got everything done. Ended up using a dremel-type rotary tool from harbor freight with 1" reinforced cutoff wheels. (Lots of them)
I was able to sheer of the nut from the top but it took a LONG TIME. all done. all better. Turns out it was my left rear strut that was the bad one. I have never seen this before but when I would go to compress the rebound was super pressurized. (Like a pogo stick) I thought they usually lose rebound when they are going bad. Also was leaking a lot of fluid when I removed. Thanks again for all your input. Greatly appreciated.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 09 Jul 2019, 22:10

Pretribrapper wrote: ↑09 Jul 2019, 08:29 UPDATE- Finally got everything done. Ended up using a dremel-type rotary tool from harbor freight with 1" reinforced cutoff wheels. (Lots of them)
I was able to sheer of the nut from the top but it took a LONG TIME. all done. all better.

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Good news! So did you smooth/ground the nut completely flat? Was there room to cut the edge of the nut... Take that back, the radius of the wheel would have cut the chassis / strut tower if you'd have tried to cut it downward to remove one side of the nut. A picture next time?

Pretribrapper · Post by **Pretribrapper** » 11 Jul 2019, 18:05

So sorry. Attached are pics of end result for removed strut and tools. I was able to use 1" reinforced cutoff wheel on rotary tool to go straight in and cut around the nut to sheer it off and the strut then dropped out.