DS shock nut

[mooker82]

Went to my parents for the week and took advantage of the tools and jacks and started doing my OME lift. I got the front done today in about 2 hours except for the DS shock. Ive got the new spring installed and the bottom shock mount off. Ive used PB blaster every day for a week prior to install. Local parts store does not have a nut splitter. Im going to try the "crack lighter" tommorow morning. Any other suggestions to try before I throw down $35 on a pipe wrench.

thanks in advance
Steven

 

[Junk]

Uh, like buy the pipe wrench, use it then return it? It wasn't me that said that was it :whoops:

Buy a nut splitter - anyone that works on their truck should have one anyway.

By crack lighter, I assume you mean the smoke wrench?

 

[elmariachi]

Any other suggestions to try before I throw down $35 on a pipe wrench.

After jackassing with pipe wrenches, nut splitters and everything else voodoo, I bought one of these chain wrenches. It fits better between the shock and the tower and is mucho useful for working on Cruisers.

 

[Junk]

It fits better between the shock and the tower and is mucho useful for working on Cruisers.

.... and better for driving through traffic :whoops:

 

[mooker82]

Local parts store does not have a nut splitter and neither does Walmart. I know Advance Auto Parts usually carries them but closest one to my parents house is 20min and I would have to borrow another car to get there....and by "crack Lighter" Im referring to using a blue flame kind of lighter (cigar lighter) to break loose the old loctite.

 

[CruisinGA]

I normally finagle a universal or wobble joint with a various assortment of extensions onto the impact for that PITA DS top bolt.

Sometimes with two people one person can turn the shock body while another holds the nut.

I like the nut splitter.

 

[IdahoDoug]

I posted on this about a month ago. Pipe wrench and a couple screwdrivers jammed under the shock's outer body to minimize distortion in this "small swing" area. A man's gotta have a pipe wrench, but I do like that thing Jim posted as the shock-tower space is tight.

DougM

 

[White Shark]

Sears would probably stock nut splitters in their tool department.

 

[semlin]

you can also get a set of special large mouth vise grips designed to fit over smaller pipes. worked good for me.

http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer...KA4QGIIY4?prodId=IrwinProd100247&search=false

 

[ginericLC]

What I did wasn't pretty. I couldn't get the nut splitter in there. Too much junk. So I took a C clamp and crushed the shock into submission and then I hit the nut with the impact gun and it was all over for that peskey shock nut. Of course the shocks were useless after this but they had done their deed so needed to be recycled.

 

[concretejungle]

With all you anal dudes around here i am very surprised most would latch onto their new OEM shock with a pipe wrench and scratch the #@$% out of it. What about one of those rubber type wrenches similar to the one Jim posted, only having a rubber belt instead of a chain. No scratching then.

 

[elmariachi]

With all you anal dudes around here i am very surprised most would latch onto their new OEM shock with a pipe wrench and scratch the #@$% out of it. What about one of those rubber type wrenches similar to the one Jim posted, only having a rubber belt instead of a chain. No scratching then.

I wasn't proposing to use the chain wrench on the new shock, only the old one for removal. What I like about it is you can attach it so that the handle is sticking straight out of the wheel well, so an 8 year old helper can easily hold onto it. I have always had good luck on the new one just holding onto the squeaky clean shock with bare hands while somebody tightens the nut.

 

[Rookie2]

Are you saying you can't get the DS shock off?? If these are the old shocks, I would (and have) just taken and hack saw off the top stud and nut, and throw it in the bushes.

 

[mooker82]

Finally got the old shock nut off and the front finished....tried vise grips on the shock body with no luck....ate some lunch and attacked it agian with a box end wrench on top wedged against the fenderwell and with just bare hands twisting it finally broke loose...I guess after all the fighting with it the loctite must have been broken loose...now to start the back.