Use magnetic sockets when removing and re-installing the top bolts!

Why?

Well, we finally got the stock front and rear shocks replaced on my new 2003 Excursion on Saturday. Job went well until I discovered I needed to go purchase some metric wrenches to remove the top nut on the front shocks (15mm), but even that wasn't as bad as it got later... or so I thought.

Once we got to the rear, it looked like a much, MUCH easier job, and it really could have been, but almost wasn't!! When we got the first rear shock out, I told me son to "just stay under there" and I'll hold the shock while you start the bolts. First bolt went in fine. Second bolt wasn't as cooperative, and it slipped..... and you know where it went, don't you?

.... yessireee.... right into that little gap between the fuel tank and the steel protective casing that surrounds the tank.........

.... and the tank was nearly FULL!!



We tried magnets, etc., but could not reach it or even see where it was... not even my 16yo's skinny fingers could find it.

He and I switched places, and while I was investigating where all the bolts are to get ready to lower the tank to retrieve the bolt ( I did NOT want that little bolt vibrating and wedging into position to eventually puncture the tank's side wall)... my son said.."Hey...Wait..." He reached in from the side and got hold of the bolt, and yes... YES... we got that little rascal back out of there!

Gratefullly, we did not have a repeat on the second shock!

Oh, and BOY did those OEM's need to go... I could compress the shocks completely between my hands and it would ever soooo slooooooowly rebound back to it's proper position. I haven't taken the Ex out for a ride yet because I need to finish cleaning the seats and get them re-installed before trying to drive anywhere, but I'm SURE it will be much better.

 

Congrats on the finally succesful install Pete. Luckily I am not so clumsy and did not have that issue when I did mine. Bwahahahahaha

 

Thanks, Jay... but I'm not the one who dropped it, either! LOL. I also did not have that same fumble-finger issue when I did the second shock myself. All in all, though, it was good experience for my son, especially since he was also able to resolve the sitaution on his own.

 

Good info Pete, thanks for sharing.

 

Pete, what is the big deal. I thought every time we work on our trucks, something like that happens. Sounds normal to me.

 

And Pete throws his son under the bus...

 

Gotta call it like it is I'm sure glad I've never done anything like that....

 

Nice good to hear it didn't go as bad as it could. I always fear dropping a bolt myself. Some of the cars that I have worked on are not very tuner friendly. But having a good magnet around does make the nerves a little easier to deal with.

 

Sounds normal to me as well Rick.....

Good info Pete....

 

Wellll.... I didn't really throw him under it... just held him out in front of it until it got really, REALLY close, and when I let him go he jumped back out of the way really fast!!

When we were all finished with the shocks, we took two hours to detail and scrub all the trim thorughout the interior, and after I thanked him for all his help, he said that he was really glad to have been able to work with me on a vehicle again (he's been really tied up with work lately).... I guess I actually managed to handle myself fairly well in the middle of it all, at least much better than I used to. You can ask him about it when we get to RRE because he's one of the two coming with me.

Regardless.... my truck still carries the scars of a few stupid things that I HAVE done to it, too!!

 

I hear ya Pete. I remember changing oil on my sisters Mustang one time. That dang filter would not spin on no matter how hard I tried. Well frusrtation set in and a few things flew, including my glasses. After stepping back and cooling down I realized because I was upside down and backwards I was turning it the wrong way. Doh!

That was pretty funny about the bus by the way. lol

 

Glad you got it without the major tearing apart Pete, good advice.

 

Wow glad mine didn't go that bad on my 250 glad to see it all worked out in the end Pete, mine were pretty well wore out when we got them off.

 

I hear ya on the X rear shocks. They look like it should be no big deal, but getting your hands in there is harder than it looks. The pickups are much easier!

 

I think we ended up using a deep well socket and about 16 inches worth of extensions, then it wasn't too bad because the ratchet was down below the bottom of the shock and much easier to work.