OTC4533 Stinger W-Body Strut Tool Kit for GM

I want to start off by recommending you file down the two pegs for the handle as so many other reviewers have previously mentioned. It will let you use thicker after market struts.A problem I encountered was the strut leaning sharply to one side, my fix on one side was to jack the car up on that side and remove the tire. I was able to use a pry bar to align everting up to removing and install the new strut. Same issue on other side but leaning in different direction so I had to push on the spring to align it.Just wanted to share that as it was an issue I encountered, maybe you will as well.Tool worked no problem.

Can not say anything bad about this item. I was actually surprised about how well made it is. However, I returned it do to the fact it did not include the tool for the very first step in the strut removal process, The socket to remove the nut while holding the stem of the strut. But it does clearly represent that if you look at the photo. My bad. Any how, that special socket is an additional 50 some odd dollars. When I saw the word, "kit" I assumed and went for it. If you do have access to this nut removal tool, You will be satisfied with this item.

It works but had to be modified for my struts. You will likely need to file the two internal pins down 1/16th of an inch or more or the socket wont slide over the shaft. After I did that it worked perfectly. Another user noted this issue so I expected it and used a flat file to make it fit.The piston shaft on many struts are a bit larger than the area between the internal pins probably because this was made for smaller struts. The bar that attaches to the socket was fairly close to the size of my new struts piston shaft. If you connect the rod for the tool to the socket and look down the tube you can see that the pins stick out farther than the inside diameter of the tube. Grind them down a little and your good.

This tool had to have some retro-fitting done before I could use it. The two lock pins which held and seated the head-piece were long enough that they had to be cut back. All the powder coat on the pins at the socket tool end had to be taken off before the tool could be used. Wasted lots of time grinding and sizing and filing and sizing.Once all the extra work had been completed, it worked well enough, although the ratchet end wasn't too strong. It gave way during the second strut retaining ring removal. Lasted long enough to get the job done and then I tossed it.

If you're doing struts on a GM W-Body car (mine was a 1997 Chevy Lumina) you MUST have this tool. The struts are easy to remove and install once you have the proper tools. Not included with this set, but will help tremendously, is the 24mm offset socket (OTC 7544) for the nut on top of the strut. Sometimes they come off with an impact, most of the time not. This set give you the Torx bit to hold the strut shaft, but not the socket to turn the nut.

Overall this worked great when changing the front strut inserts on a 1998 Monte Carlo Z34. The only thing you'll have to do is slightly grind down the 2 nubs inside the collar so that it will slide over the strut shaft & strut body. But don't grind them down do much that they no longer catch the accompanying bar.

only works to remove factory strut cartridges. The fatter gabriels would not clear the inner tabs that allow extension to drive pin socket. I had to rent the oem 27034 from autozone. It does not have tabs inside because there is a separate 3 pin and 4 pin sockets.. No flipping of pin socket w/oem 27034 .Very dissapointed w/OTC. this is going back.

Great tool kit!!! Close tolerances, well machined and it really simplifies the task. Would recommend in the strongest possible terms.