Front Strut Problem...

[BlackWidowSS]

Ok, so I was doing the LS1 Brake Swap today and throwing on a set or lowering springs when all hell broke loose...

The strut's were rusted SO BAD that on the passenger side there was no nut left to take loose, and everything was stuck together.

I bought new shocks So we decided to do what we had to do to get the old ones apart without mangling the essential pieces for re-assembly...

Well the spring compressor did nothing, so we cut the stock springs off and we cut the top of the shock to get the pieces we needed off...On the passenger side the rust was so bad that we could not get anything to come apart and the Strut Mount/Isolator/whatever all that crap is on the top of the strut all broke apart and was fucked.

Basically everything that bolts to the shock, all the way up to the pieces that bolt to the car were done EXCEPT the upper control arm.

Now my question is...I am on the hunt for a cheap set up for the passenger side since an all new one for ONE SIDE not counting the shock is about 100 bucks...What all year models work with this? My car is a 97 SS...will LS1 style work as a replacement? What about the V6 models? Will they work?

Thanks for the help!

[95droptopz]

According to summit they are all the same.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KY...RO&prefilter=1

[Paulster2]

I know this is a little after the fact, but I'll try to describe the easiest way that I've found to get the shock/spring assy apart. What you'll need is an impact gun and the proper 6-point deep well socket for the nut on top. Some PB Blaster helps as well. DO NOT install a spring compressor onto the spring. Placing the shock/spring assy flat on the ground, take the impact gun to it. Make sure you point the business end of the shock (the bottom) towards an area you will not damage. Yes, use the impact, take the nut off the top (after liberally applying PB Blaster), and let it fly. The shock will eject with some force, but if you keep your shock pointed in a safe direction everything will be just fine. The pressure of the spring is enough to ratchet the nut off of the shock. I've found when I've used a spring compressor to try and take it off, all that ends up happening is stripping the nut and/or twisting the top of the shock bolt in half. This is the only sure fire (pun intended) way I have found to get the assy apart. Just make sure the shock is pointed away from anything you find valuable.

NOTE: This is a definite "use at your own risk" situation. I take no responsibility for the use of these directions.

[BlackWidowSS]

That method would be great if there WAS a nut to get an impact onto....... The nuts were rusted out so bad that there was no way to get an impact on them.