ok im lowering my 2005 cavalier and i have the strut off but mi cant get the top of the assemby off to remove the spring is there some kind of special tool i need or do i have to take it tio the dealership?

first get a spring compressor and compress the spring. then use a wrench on the nut and pliers to hold the strut above the nut so it doesnt spin.

yeah, for sure you need to hold the strut shaft (pliers or vise grips) while loosening the upper bolt... otherwise the whole works just spins after the nut comes off a tad.

you HAVE to compress that spring, otherwise your face is going to get a big suprise when that puppy lets loose. i normally use an impact gun on the top nut of the strut to get them off, but that is in a nice spring compressor that i can use the strut as leverage against the nut so it doesn't spin the whole thing. if you dont have access to these, you can do what is pictured above, or pay a small fee at a local shop and have them do it.

John Benham wrote:or pay a small fee at a local shop and have them do it.

which is around $20.00 just did my fronts a month ago and thats what they charged at Tuffy.

i used a 10mm inside 1/4 socket and ext inside a 3/16 socket with an end i can use an adjustable wrench on.