Old and new problems...

[cWs306]

impact guns arnt always strong enough to get the axle bolt off. youll need a 1/2" breaker bar, 1 1/4" socket nd maybe a pole for the end. ive snapped 3/4" break bars from trying to get an axle nut off these cars. ive read about other people doing it too.

[SuperK]

well, he can always pass that bridge when he gets there. I would assume that the impact gun won't be enough as well.

[Daninski]

Socket + 3' extension bar + 5' pipe + Fat Basta*d friend bouncing on end of pipe. Worked for me.

[MrMazda92]

I'll buy the axle next week, after payday.

I'm debating what to do with the ground controls at this point. I'm pretty sure the clunking is related to the helper springs, but I simply don't know how to make it stop. It's a big PITA to remove them, raise the ride height to compensate, re-install, and find out the problem was something else. I may swap back to stock springs for now, just to get the car back on the road.

[mx3matt]

when i installed my gc's i used zx2 struts without helper springs, you'll get an occasional clunk when the tophat jumps off the spring and reseats itself, especially over speed bumps and the like.

as for the vibration. i had major passenger side vibration which disappeared when i swapped out for a new cv axle. my thought is the cv had kinda worn a sweet spot which was changed when the ride height changed, i now have the same issue and clunking/clicking from the driver side which i know had been replaced before i bought the car.

i've got a day off on wednesday, so more then likely i'll be replacing both lower ball joints, d/s cv axle, and possibly front pads and rotors if i've got the dough.

[MrMazda92]

Yeah.. The regular clunking is the top hat bouncing on the piece between the 2 springs. The helpers don't compress 100% when driving normally,there's about 1/8" gap between the 2 pieces, and they clunk on every small bump.

I may have to pull the helpers off of there, unfortunately. ;(

[cWs306]

NOOB question, what do helper springs do anyways? never heard of them haha.

[MrMazda92]

Basically, they are supposed to keep the main spring firmly seated between the top hat/strut mount and the perch. They should be totally compressed when the car is at rest... mine are not. :/