My Dad taught me this trick 25+ years ago and just thought I would share, cause it's unique and works every time.... When removing old crappy front shocks that you aren't going to save, just put a deep well socket on the top nut, the longest extension you have, and push and pull on the extension side to side till the shock stud breaks. The shock will fall out, and you don't have to screw around trying to hold a small wrench on the stud, while you back off the nut. Works great in the rust belt like here. It's so fast (usually 3-4 wiggles) that you can't believe it.! Maybe that will help somebody someday when they are cussing removing a shock...:TU:
That trick works great........except on rear shocks on old fords that use that same style mounting. You can't get inbetween the frame and the floors.......when I used to work for Firestone, I started a trunk fire in one once trying to get one out with a torch. The guy had a cardboard box in there on top of where I was torching. Lucky for me I noticed the smoke in time, no damage just a lot of embarassment. Next time someone curses GM for using 2 bolts on the top of the rear shocks, remember it could always be an old Ford. ou: Here's a tip for doing rear GM shocks........take the springs out first, they come out easy, it'll be a lot easier to get at the bolts.
For front shocks, if I'm not re-using them, I stick a pair of vise grips through the coils spring and grap the shaft, and then wrench off the top nut. I haven't had any difficulty with it yet, but if it gets too stubborn, I'll try snapping the top off with the socket and extension. -Josh
I'd like to hear of an easy way to remove front shocks from a full size Ford van. I've tried the torch, a sawsall and wrenching the nut off. Sawsall was the best but still a major PITA... There's no room for an extension but maybe there's another way to snap the stud from the top? o No:
I'm all about making long involved PIA shock removal quick, easy and as painless as possible. I don't even remember where I learned this trick but it has worked every single time. Put an appropriately sized deep socket on an impact wrench, put it over the top nut and have at it. I don't know why but it works for rusty shocks, dirty nasty filthy corroded shocks, super slippery leaking shocks, basically everything I have tried it on. Pretty cool.:TU:
