bytespc Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Ordered my replacement struts yesterday, arrived today, far too wet to fit but question : has anyone else replaced the top ball that's supplied as well or just removed and fitted on your old existing one ? Fantastic service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHEZZA Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 It's been awhile but I replaced the ball joint , as I think you can't get the old arm off without cutting it off the ball joint so just un-bolted it. Though it's been a couple of years so I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bytespc Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share Posted February 13, 2016 Well That's The best 30mins I've spent for a goodly long while.....it took longer to replace the rubber boots on the springs for the washer trick than to remove and fit the Struts....now relax with a hot cuppa ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 I'm about to order a pair from SGS. Anyone know what is the size of the bolt that screws into the bootlid? I just tried a couple of spanners on it - 11mm is too small but 12mm seems too slack and I don't want to risk stripping the bolt. PS Haven't been on the forum for a couple of years now but still running the original Z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt89 Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 I'm about to order a pair from SGS. Anyone know what is the size of the bolt that screws into the bootlid? I just tried a couple of spanners on it - 11mm is too small but 12mm seems too slack and I don't want to risk stripping the bolt. PS Haven't been on the forum for a couple of years now but still running the original Z. I ended up using a very narrow/thin adjustable spanner as I only had my imperial scanners and couldn't get any to fit cleanly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veilside z Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Ordering a set for mine too as they are awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 I'm about to order a pair from SGS. Anyone know what is the size of the bolt that screws into the bootlid? I just tried a couple of spanners on it - 11mm is too small but 12mm seems too slack and I don't want to risk stripping the bolt. PS Haven't been on the forum for a couple of years now but still running the original Z. I ended up using a very narrow/thin adjustable spanner as I only had my imperial scanners and couldn't get any to fit cleanly. Thanks for the tip. I'll give that a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZEUS Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Mine were 12mm when I changed them last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Just bought an adjustable spanner and tried that but it just keeps slipping off. The 12mm is definitely too slack to get any purchase on it. These bolts don't look like they were ever meant to come out! I may have to give up and cope with the bootlid falling down in cold weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cs2000 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 It is indeed a 12mm bolt. When i fitted my struts I removed the OEM one, but they are held in very tightly with copious amounts of threadlock. Personally, I heated the ball joints up with the "flamethrower" tip on my gas soldering iron (you could also use a kitchen blowtorch) to try to soften the threadlock, then used an open ended 12mm spanner (not a socket or the round end ones) and it came off with a bit of force. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt89 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 It is indeed a 12mm bolt. When i fitted my struts I removed the OEM one, but they are held in very tightly with copious amounts of threadlock. Personally, I heated the ball joints up with the "flamethrower" tip on my gas soldering iron (you could also use a kitchen blowtorch) to try to soften the threadlock, then used an open ended 12mm spanner (not a socket or the round end ones) and it came off with a bit of force. Just for reference my '08 HR did not have threadlock on them, but did require quite a force to start them off but easy once started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 It is indeed a 12mm bolt. When i fitted my struts I removed the OEM one, but they are held in very tightly with copious amounts of threadlock. Personally, I heated the ball joints up with the "flamethrower" tip on my gas soldering iron (you could also use a kitchen blowtorch) to try to soften the threadlock, then used an open ended 12mm spanner (not a socket or the round end ones) and it came off with a bit of force. Just for reference my '08 HR did not have threadlock on them, but did require quite a force to start them off but easy once started. Thanks for that update. Mine definitely must have lots of threadlock on them because they show no signs of shifting at all. I have decided to check to see if the weight is still in the bootlid and, if so, remove it as a first step. Failing that, I will try to cut the sockets off the ball joints and replace the struts using the OEM ball joints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cs2000 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 It is indeed a 12mm bolt. When i fitted my struts I removed the OEM one, but they are held in very tightly with copious amounts of threadlock. Personally, I heated the ball joints up with the "flamethrower" tip on my gas soldering iron (you could also use a kitchen blowtorch) to try to soften the threadlock, then used an open ended 12mm spanner (not a socket or the round end ones) and it came off with a bit of force. Just for reference my '08 HR did not have threadlock on them, but did require quite a force to start them off but easy once started. Thanks for that update. Mine definitely must have lots of threadlock on them because they show no signs of shifting at all. I have decided to check to see if the weight is still in the bootlid and, if so, remove it as a first step. Failing that, I will try to cut the sockets off the ball joints and replace the struts using the OEM ball joints. Theres no need to cut them off!! If you look at the strut where it clips onto the ball joint, you will see a thin black metal band going around the strut/ball joint socket area, if you use something like a knife to lever this off of the strut (its clipped in somehow, but cant remember how) the strut will come free from the ball joint if you give it a little tug as there's nothing physically holding it in place anymore. Just bear in mind, the single strut that's still attached can NOT hold the boot up, it is very heavy so don't let it hit you on the head when you take the first strut off. Unless youre primed ready for it, or have a helper it will do just that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Thanks again. I'll have a look at them tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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