strip down, strip away

7. VERB

If you strip an engine or a piece of equipment, you take it to pieces so that it can be cleaned or repaired.     

• Volvo's three-man team stripped the car and restored it.    
  
  Strip down means the same as strip. PHRASAL VERB     
• In five years I had to strip the water pump down four times.

strip away:

1. PHRASAL VERB

To strip away something, especially something that hides the true nature of a thing, means to remove it completely.     

• Altman strips away the pretence and mythology to expose the film industry as a business like any other.
  

.... Cobuild