Factory sealant removal at top of front struts
 

Anyone have a good system for removing the factory sealant from the top of the front struts under the hood?
This stuff is black and tar-like. Figured I ask before going at it with something too strong, etc.

just use a scraper or razor blade for the big stuff. It should come up fairly easy. I don't recall using and solvent or anything like that to do the job when I replaced my shocks.

Hot air gun and a variety of scrapers

I did mine with a stiff cup type wire brush on an electric drill.
It's effective, but sprays alot of debris. If you use this method,be sure to cover the surrounding area with a drop cloth or something similar.

First chip away most of it, and then remove whatever remains with petrol.

I just chipped mine off.

Great feedback, guys. Thanks very much.

Why remove it?

My tire guy pointed out that to get in there for an alignment I'd need to remove the stuff citing access to bolts, etc. He suggested that my car had never been adjusted up front. It's far from his first 911, so I took it at face value. Thoughts?

The project can be a little neater if you first "define" the edges of what you want to remove, with an X-acto or utility knife.

I have used ice to freeze the larger pieces and pry with a small screwdriver and it comes off real easy. Then I use a roloc gasket remover to clean up.