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Swapping Rear Shocks

Tims65

Member
I got a good deal on a slightly used pair of Bilstein rear shocks, and was going to swap out my Edelbrock IAS shocks and see what kind of a difference they made.

What is the trick to breaking the double nut top mount? I can't double wrench the nuts working through the little oval access hole. If I put a ratchet over just the top nut, both nuts and the shaft spin.

Thanks,
Tim
 
You need a second pair of hands down below (under the car) to hold the upper section of the shock.
 
Take an old wrench, bend it almost straight up. Use a socket on the top nut.
 
Thanks for the suggestions; I tried over and over to get a wrench on the bottom nut, but just could not make it work and I don't have an impact driver, so....should I make my wife get underneath and grab the cylinder or do I trust her on top working the nuts?

Tim
 
Try this......clamp your larger pair of vise grips to the little tip at the bottom below the bottom nuts (under the leaf spring perches). Rotate the shock till the vise grips contact something then go break your upper with a hand tool.
 
Does the shaft have a square end on it? If so, a pair of vice grips clamped there and a wrench under them on the nut....

Now, about the wife grabbing the cylinder or the nuts....personal preference I would say or which ever she is better at.
 
"dodgestang" said:
Try this......clamp your larger pair of vise grips to the little tip at the bottom below the bottom nuts (under the leaf spring perches). Rotate the shock till the vise grips contact something then go break your upper with a hand tool.

So...the threaded rod is solid straight through the shock? OK, that's sounds like it's worth a try.


"silverblueBP" said:
Tim, it's time to step up to an impact wrench!

Nope, I insist on doing everything the hard way!

Tim
 
"Tims65" said:
So...the threaded rod is solid straight through the shock? OK, that's sounds like it's worth a try.


Nope, I insist on doing everything the hard way!

Tim
Nope, The top and bottom sections of the shock spin independently.
 
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