help w/ stuck adjuster rings

[jackal264]

ok so i've had my hks coils for over 3 years now and i had bought them used. when i got them they were already at a good hight so i never touched the rings. now that i got a kit and rims i want to go lower but the rings are TOTALLY seized. the fronts broke free with the torch but ther rears won't budge.

heres what i've tried
- the proper tools
- screw driver and hammer
- big ass pipe wrench
- i've also torched the rings and used a pipe wrench and like 4' of cheater bar and still nothing.
- and lots of penetrating lube/break clean to clean the threads.

i've tried with the suspension in the car, outa the car and in a vice and still nothing.

what are my options?

[Anto]

I hate stuck rings.
The most I've had to do is a hammer & flathead.
Try twisting it both ways?

[jackal264]

oh i have. i took the whole strut apart to take all the spring load off the rings to but still no luck. i'm thinking of just giving hks a call tomorrow to see if i can just order a new set of rings so i can just cut them off.

but if there is some magic solvent of something i don't know about then lmk.

[Anto]

Have you heard about 50/50 mix of acetone and ATF?
I read on a survey somewhere that it had the best penetrating power out of a bunch of shit tested

or try the wax trick


"The April/May 2007 edition of Machinist's Workshop did a test of penetrating oils where they measured the force required to loosen rusty test devices. Buy the issue if you want to see how they did the test. The results reported were interesting. The lower the number of pounds the better. Mighty interesting results for simple acetone and tranny fluid!

Penetrating oil . Average load .. Price per fluid ounce
None ................. 516 pounds .
WD-40 .............. 238 pounds .. $0.25
PB Blaster ......... 214 pounds .. $0.35
Liquid Wrench ... 127 pounds .. $0.21
Kano Kroil ........ 106 pounds .. $0.75
ATF-Acetone mix.. 53 pounds .. $0.10

The ATF-Acetone mix was a 50/50 mix (1 to 1 ratio)."

KEEP THAT SHIT AWAY FROM FIRE

[jackal264]

so i called hks and they won't sell just the rings. so that leaves me stuck. i wonder, if can isolate just the rings would it help if maybe i left them in a bath of liquid wrench? for like 2 days or something.

oh but they did say they would take them in for an overhaul at a cost of 180-260 per corner and a wait of 6-8 weeks. ouch.

[AllMotorS13]

pb blaster. let them soak. i've even had to have a friend hit one ring while i hit the other.

[Anto]

Any luck on them?