I've been avoiding it like the plague but I'm going to have to break down and pull the front struts to replace the rubber spring seats. The creaking and groaning from the right side tower is just too much.

Normally I'm all about making due with what tools I can cobble together from my toolbox but for this job I'm considering IPD's spanner wrench. I've not done the job before with or without. Right now $26 +shipping sounds pretty reasonable to me if it makes the job that much easier. Is it worth it or should I stick with my vice grips?

If only I still had access to a machine shop. A piece of steel, two gage pins and a couple hours and it would be settled.

Thanks,
Will
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Hmmm. I took the top nut off with vice grips holding the top of the shaft and an adjustable wrench (only big wrench I had). The 4 prong star nut came off with channel lock pliers.
I let Sears supply me with a very nice spring compressor ($55).

Remember to order the XC90 spring seats, perfect fit and last much longer.

Klaus
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Common sense trumps a PhD

Oh so the tool only helps with the odd shaped nut that is easy to grab onto with channel-locks? Figures. I love my big Channel-locks, so versatile. My father calls them water pump pliers.

The XC90 ones fit and work???

Thanks,
Will
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XC90 is more robust and fits, according to matthews and volvospeed.

Klaus
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Common sense trumps a PhD

Hrmm. Rockauto.com lists the same spring seat part numbers for the XC90 and 850 so I don't doubt they work.

Now I wonder if they are the same part. fcpGroton uses the same Worldpac picture for the "OEM" Sachs/Boge 850 seat and the "Aftermarket" XC90 seat. However they're asking $6.50 less for the 850 one.

I wonder what IPD's "Heavy Duty" ones really are.

-Will
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