cant remove cartridge

[3.0trd]

I have a set of front struts out of a 280. honestly not sure if its the z or zx, but I'll get to that later. I got the top hat and spring etc off and just removed the large nut around the shaft. I was told the cartridge should just slide out but I am having no luck. I put it in a vice and tried tapping the end with a mallet but its not budging... any suggestions? is there a set screw or something I'm missing?

[MicroMachinery]

Is the strut tube bent, kinked or dented anywhere? It should have quite a bit of clearance in there to fill with oil to help with heat dissipation.

[3.0trd]

I don't see any kind of damage, there is oil in both of them, but they are both stuck tight.

[yello620]

Some factory struts have a small o-ring seal around the outer edge that needs picked out before the OEM cartridge will slide out. Large nut removed, you can see the cartridge inside now, at the outer edge is the seal.

 

Yours may not have this, but i have seen it before. If you do have this style, have a large drain pan udner it when you slide the cartridge out, they make a huge mess.

 

Good luck

[3.0trd]

thank you yello620, that was the problem. popped the seal and it slid right out! thanks guys!

[yello620]

That is a tough seal to try to describe to you, but glad it worked out for you. How big of a mess did it make when you pulled those out of there???