need help re: rear shock removal

[KR900]

I'm attempting to replace my rear shocks, but can't seem to get the old one removed. The bottom mounting bolt sheared off. The top locking nuts were so rusted that I resorted to a hack saw. This all was in the past 2 hours.

So now I've got the shock totally disconnected, but can't figure out how to remove the shock from the car. Is is supposed to drop down through the hole in the lower suspension arm? That's what I'd think, but due to the existing bushing it won't budge.

Any help is appreciated, as the car is off the road until I can get this resolved.

Thanks
Kevin

[900t]

You should be able to just compress it, and then lift it up and out. If not... the shock was probably still good

In such a case, try using a jack to compress and then quickly lower it. Or perhaps use a crowbar in the lower control arm, to "pop" it out of there. It's a tight fit.

[DanF.]

900t's advice should work, but if not....

get the back end of the car on jack stands. use a jack to raise the rearend up pretty far. undo the large bolt that holds the connects the swingarm to the frame. slowly slowly slowy lower the rearend until there is enough room to compress the shock and pull it out. (you may need to unhook the clip that holds the brake line. I think i did.)

hope this helps...

also i think that you can unbolt the linkage bar instead of the swingarm...

gotta love DIY

[900t]

If you are crazy, you can take an angle grinder and jam it into the side of the shock, depressurizing it and making removal very simple. Or you can grind through the top and cut the piston rod off and that would be less explosively fun.

[gorper]

Originally Posted by KR900

I'm attempting to replace my rear shocks, but can't seem to get the old one removed. The bottom mounting bolt sheared off. The top locking nuts were so rusted that I resorted to a hack saw. This all was in the past 2 hours.

So now I've got the shock totally disconnected, but can't figure out how to remove the shock from the car. Is is supposed to drop down through the hole in the lower suspension arm? That's what I'd think, but due to the existing bushing it won't budge.

Any help is appreciated, as the car is off the road until I can get this resolved.

Thanks
Kevin

You push the shock up to compress it, then pull it down and out from the top mount while angling so it clears the lower control arm; it does not come out via the hole in the control arm.

Assuming you have the top nuts cut off, the bottom mounting nut and bolt have been removed, and the bottom of the shock won't come free from the control arm: the lower bushing has a steel insert that may have small teeth on it (some seem to have the teeth, some don't have 'em) that are either stuck to the control arm due to tight clearance/time, or they may be rusted on. You should be able to take a pry bar to the shock down where it mates with the control arm and give a little help.

You also might try jacking up the *shock* (NOT the control arm) via the hole in the control arm.

An angle grinder is a good tool to have for these jobs. Also, use anti-seize on the new top bolts. You might try spraying some white lithium grease all over the nuts/threads when everything's on to help with corrosion. I don't know if it'll last, but it's better than nothing.

HTH,

-Hans <-- Recently spent ~5 hours dealing with badly rusted, 22-year-old shocks (the car's original set).

PS You can drive the car without a rear shock. I put many 100s of miles on a '78 99 this way (top mount punched through). Car was fully loaded with skiing/climbing gear, too.

[KR900]

Thanks for your help, I got it. Lift the bottom of the shock up, don't try to force it down...

Unfortunately one of the bolts at the bottom had the nut rusted on and the bolt sheared off at the nut when trying to loosen, so now I'm trying to source a replacement bolt.

[cdaly]

Originally Posted by gorper

to help with corrosion.

Hmm.. Is that to promote corrosion or to hinder it???...