iwannadie
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Gilbert, Az
So, I got some cheap shocks to replace my factory original worn out shocks. I did all the reading up I could to go in ready to snap the usual bolts.
I do the fronts first with no issue, they came out and back in. I didn't even remove the wheels and could have done it without lifting the front end.
On to the rears, I've been spraying PB on the bolts for a week now hoping it would help. I go at the first bolt turning maybe 1/8th of a turn then tighten back up 1/8th. Go to loose again and snap, it didn't even take any real amount of pressure to just pop it. The other 3 were the same, they just snapped like they were made of plastic and were all rusted. I have no real rust anywhere else but these bolts were well rusted.
Having no air compressor I go buy a small sledge and nice punch and start pounding away at 1 bolt. Nothing happens... I beat on that thing on and off for an hour and no sign of it giving. I call a buddy who has a compressor to see about driving over shock-less to get these things pounded out. He didn't call me back so I beat on them for another hour with no result.
I then decided to cut up the rear and have a go at it that way. The interior came right out and using my dremel I cut the holes accordingly. I see the nut is all rusted and has a huge weld covering 1/4 of the nut. The whole corner is a thick weld. I beat on it from the top for a while again no result. I tried a break bar thinking maybe I could twist it loose. The nut just rounded off like it was made of clay. The nut seemed to be such a soft metal but sure wouldn't budge from the BFH and was mushrooming my punch.
I then took my dremel again and with a cut off wheel cut under the weld then with a pry bar it popped right off. All the reading and pictures I've seen showed only a few small tack welds not a heavy weld like on mine. After the nut came off I saw the usual pin spot welds though. Not sure if they just made extra sure on mine or what but it was a pain.
After I got the first one figured out the other 3 came out pretty easy and my access holes got cleaner ha. I'm looking now to cover them in a way I can get a socket in there later when needed.
Things would have been easier with an actual grinder/cut off wheel but the little dremel sure is useful!
I do the fronts first with no issue, they came out and back in. I didn't even remove the wheels and could have done it without lifting the front end.
On to the rears, I've been spraying PB on the bolts for a week now hoping it would help. I go at the first bolt turning maybe 1/8th of a turn then tighten back up 1/8th. Go to loose again and snap, it didn't even take any real amount of pressure to just pop it. The other 3 were the same, they just snapped like they were made of plastic and were all rusted. I have no real rust anywhere else but these bolts were well rusted.
Having no air compressor I go buy a small sledge and nice punch and start pounding away at 1 bolt. Nothing happens... I beat on that thing on and off for an hour and no sign of it giving. I call a buddy who has a compressor to see about driving over shock-less to get these things pounded out. He didn't call me back so I beat on them for another hour with no result.
I then decided to cut up the rear and have a go at it that way. The interior came right out and using my dremel I cut the holes accordingly. I see the nut is all rusted and has a huge weld covering 1/4 of the nut. The whole corner is a thick weld. I beat on it from the top for a while again no result. I tried a break bar thinking maybe I could twist it loose. The nut just rounded off like it was made of clay. The nut seemed to be such a soft metal but sure wouldn't budge from the BFH and was mushrooming my punch.
I then took my dremel again and with a cut off wheel cut under the weld then with a pry bar it popped right off. All the reading and pictures I've seen showed only a few small tack welds not a heavy weld like on mine. After the nut came off I saw the usual pin spot welds though. Not sure if they just made extra sure on mine or what but it was a pain.
After I got the first one figured out the other 3 came out pretty easy and my access holes got cleaner ha. I'm looking now to cover them in a way I can get a socket in there later when needed.
Things would have been easier with an actual grinder/cut off wheel but the little dremel sure is useful!