OTC 4533 Stinger W-Body Strut Tool Kit for GM

tool worked well,good low cost as well

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.

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.

The only thing I found to be a problem was that to get the old strut out I needed a different size ratchet but the tool came with a torks t50 for the new part that turned out to be very helpful it took very minimal strength with this tool to get the old one out and no kinda hard labor to tighten the new one up and the time was very low changing old to new this tool is actually the only way to get it out efficiently with no problems

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.

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.

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.

the tool is necessary and useful in removing and replacing the strut cartridges, but the pins used to connect the collar to the tube that fits over the strut piston rod were too close in and would not fit over the strut rod shaft until modified, use the old strut rod shaft to force modify the pins allowing clearance needed to install new inserts without compressing the strut rod while turning the retaining nut ( after modification tool functions properly )

Our shop has one but I am one of those fussy techs that likes to have my own shop tools so I waited until it was on sale and purchased it. Our shop tool has the modification to the internal pins like others have mentioned and honestly it’s not a huge deal to shave off a bit of material to get them to fit right. I’ve had other more expensive tools that I’ve had to modify more to get them to work properly so taking a die grinder and a carbide bit to the alignment pins is easy peasey lemon squeezie :). It’s getting to the point in my career where I’ll likely not see another GM W-body strut job for a long time, if ever again. I just like knowing that I have the right tool if the day comes again, because I’m a firm believer in that old adage of “It’s better to have a tool and not need it than it is to need it and not have it”.

Bought for a buddy.

A very nice tool to have in your shop, worked great, very fast shipping