hello, I am trying to install my new shocks and springs, I took the assembly out, it was no problem. What is being a problem is the top nut that attaches the top mounting plate to the shock. I have the springs compressed and I am trying to take that damn nut off. The problem is that when I rotate it the rubber stoppers and boots and whatnots and the shock shaft also spin. I tried putting a vice grip on the shock shaft between the coils of the spring but it didn't help
Please, any tips or ideas will be appreciated.
TIA

 

My trick is to keep it in the car still and break the nut loose but don't take it off.

I've done the same thing as you did so I just put 2 nuts back on in the car and loosened it. You don't have to bolt the bottom back just put 2 in on the top to hold it stationary.

 

yeah that's what I did... the top plate doesn't move because it's attached by those two nuts under the speaker, the problem is that the whole shock shaft moves together with the rubber boots. So the rubber part it's spinning inside the top metal plate

 

i took those nut off with an impact wrench when the whole strut was off the car

 

Yup. Impact wrench here too. Worked like a charm. Hehe. $30 for a whole impact kit from Home Depot. One of the best $30 things I've ever bought.

 

The shock pistons are designed to spin. Doing this job requires an Impact Gun.

If you don't have access to air tools, take the shocks to a garage and have them spin the nuts off for you.

 

since you are replacing the old shocks take a pair of vice grips and clamp on the shaft.

 

no, I don't have an impact wrench, I'll take them to a shop I guess. I did the front ones, it was cake! and it looks great.. didn't drive it yet though.

DigitalSynthesis:
What do you get for those $30 at homedepot? That's something I could do.
TIA

 

Its pretty cool. I think it was an unnanounced christmas special, but I don't know. It was the "husky" (Home Depot generic repackaged brand) air tool kit : air impact wrench (max. 250 ft-lbs of torque), air impact ratchet (40 ft-lbs), air nozzle, two (why two instead of three I don't know) of the tool-to-hose adapters, and a few impact-rated adapters and maybe some sockets that were not metric so promptly got put in the "who gives a damn" bin. I also had to buy a 1/2"-> 3/8" adapter and the vice-versa to run both sizes (the air ratchet is 3/8 and the air wrench is 1/2) on each tool. I hardly ever use impact rated sockets - all mine are craftsman and if the break, I get new ones anyway. Saves money and they weigh less.

Oh, and a Metrinch set is SUPER useful for getting bolts off that strip with a 12-pt socket. They grip on the sides not the points, and one set lying around has done as much or more work on my rusty chassis than my entire collection of craftsman sockets, for sure. Plus their handle is more comfortable and fits inside pipes better. Good luck!

 

Thanks for your quick response.
Unfortunately I don't have a compressor. I thought the one you bought was electric. I know Dewalt makes one.. but it's expensive $200 I think. Oh well thanks anyway, I'll take them to a shop to have them removed.

 

Hehe... if you plan to do much more work around your car, let me tell you : GET a compressor. Its worth it. Fortunately I have one my dad left me but even if I didn't I'd go buy a small one or something. A 120psi-ish model with a pressure regulator and a cutoff valve is about all you need. Dial up the pressure you want, and you can even use it for pro paint / lacquer etc. jobs. Beats the gas station for tire inflation too.