You should be able to get to the bolts. If the shock is bent, try taking the lower bolt loose first, then move the shock body around to help you gain access to the uppers. Yes, they are a royal PITA, especially if you're running a gay set of shock boots, but you've gotta do it to change them out, so complaining about it is only going to get you that much more aggravated. The rear shock upper bolts were rusted inplace on my wife's 2000 model, and the bolts snapped when I tried removing them. I took up the carpet in the rear, measured where the shocks were, and cut an access hole over each one to drill them out. Yes, it sucked, but I full well expected it to happen, so I remained calm and got the job done. Afterward, I cut a couple of pieces of sheet metal bigger than the access holes I'd made, and siliconed and riveted them in place. Now if I ever need to go back in there, it won't be so bad.