Rear Shock removal difficulty
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New User
Joined: Oct 2003
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Rear Shock removal difficulty
Hello everyone, hope you all had a nice 4th!
I am trying to change the rear shocks out on a 95 shorty. The top bolt will loosen to an extent, but at some point just spins aimlessly. The bolt will retighten, so I know its not stripped. From what I can tell, there's no clip of any type holding it on.
Help?
Thanks!
I am trying to change the rear shocks out on a 95 shorty. The top bolt will loosen to an extent, but at some point just spins aimlessly. The bolt will retighten, so I know its not stripped. From what I can tell, there's no clip of any type holding it on.
Help?
Thanks!
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 86
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From: Canada
When I changed the rear shocks on my 1994 Aerostar EXT E-4WD I had the same problem with the bolt spinning aimlessly. The problem was that the casement inside the shock that envelopes the bolt was fused to the bolt with rust. It just turned with the bolt. So there is no way I could remove the bolt with the casement attached. I ended up borrowing a hand grinder from work and grinded the bold and the shock to pieces until it all fell out. A cutting torch is very useful in a situation like this but I don't have one of those.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,818
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Ditto to the above. Torch off the bolt head and although this is not the recommended proceedure, once off, you can bend the outer mounting plate outwards to allow the inner bolt/rusted sleeve to be pulled out. This was the only way I could remove one of my rear bolts. Don't waste your time trying to hacksaw the bolt off, it is hardened steel and very difficult to cut. I tried everything before resorting to the torch.
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From: Canada
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New User
Joined: Oct 2003
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Yep, that is exactly what we found. We ended up using a air powered cutting tool to cut the shock itself off and were able to actually save the bolts.
Had to cut the front ones off as well - there was no getting those top bolts to budge.
Overall about a 4 hour job (if you would have told be that before starting I would have laughed at you!).
Thanks!
Had to cut the front ones off as well - there was no getting those top bolts to budge.
Overall about a 4 hour job (if you would have told be that before starting I would have laughed at you!).
Thanks!
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 586
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From: Tottenham Ontario Canada
I ended up using the blue wrench (oxy-acetylene) to cut open the eyes on the tops of the shocks. Once the rubber smoke cleared (*koff*, *koff*), I also sliced the sleeve off the bolt with the torch. It was nasty, but I salvaged both bolts.
Cheers,
Eric
Cheers,
Eric
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