rear shocks

dgw · Dec 30, 2007

Does anybody out there know the best way of removing the top offside 23yr old bolt fom the shock absorber?
I've tried every type of release agent on the market.
I've hammered the nut on the end of the bolt protruding into the wheel arch.
I've even started to drill into the bolt onthe wheel arch side but that has not gone to well.
Now I'm told I will have to apply heat to the bolt?
That worries me because access is very very limited and there's an awful lot of fuel related items on that side of the car.
Any advice would be appreciated

AlexG · Dec 30, 2007

dgw - presumably you have got the nut undone and it is removing the bolt which is causing the problem? (as opposed to the nut seized onto the bolt)

If yes you will need to partially compress the suspension before trying to remove the first bolt (I removed the lower bolt first) otherwise the weight of the suspension will fully extend the shick and thus the weight of the suspension assembly is supported by shock mounting bolts which will make it difficult to remove them.

When I did the rear shocks recently I did not remove the wheels so that I could easily load and unload the suspension by raising lowering the car with a trolley jack.

I definately wouldn't bother trying to drill them out, the top mount bolts are about 8-10cm long...

As an aside there was no corrosion on the shanks of the bolts on mine and I suspect this was probably the first time they had been removed (on a 27yr old car).

Hope that helps?

dgw · Dec 30, 2007

AlexG
Thanks for your response.
The bottom bolt is out so no problem there but it was bably corroded in and took some effort to extract, viz. very heavy hammering.
Anyway if anything else comes to mind perhaps you can advise me.
Thanks again. Regards

Guest · Dec 30, 2007

As opposed to heat you could always try cold.
Friend who runs a garage business was quite surprised at how effective the 'freezing' aerosol sprays (sold as Comma brand) can be in areas where heat is not safe. (He doubted they would work at all .....)
It is very common for the shank of the bolts to seize in the steel bushing on shock absorber eyes. I would try first heating the bolt with a hot-air gun but be careful not to set the underseal on fire! - then freezing the bolt immediately.
Expansion and contraction should help break the corrosion 'joint'.
Needless to say when you re-assemble use Copaslip on shank and thread. You will never have the problem again.