Help: top bolt of front shock

tomtaylz

tomtaylz

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I was working on my Jeep at the shop today (unfortunately I did not get done) and I was struggling with the shock front top bolts. I saw a video of chipping away the top foam gasket under the mount and holding it there so you can actually lossen it (mine just spins and doesn’t loosen) however I it was a bit difficult with what I had. if I had the bottom bolts attached would it be a case of coming out easy? Anyone have any good solutions for it?

Hoping to finish up things Tuesday!
 
You should be able to either put a small wrench on the top of the pin or hold it with some channel locks. You will have to use a wrench at that point to loosen the nuts.
 
I used an adjustable wrench to hold the shaft still while loosening the nut. There is a flattened area below the mount above the shock if I remember correctly.
 
Unbolt the shock at the bottom and pull it sharply toward you to snap the shock's strut. The top of the remaining strut can then be simply lifted out from the top.
 
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Gotcha, I was having a hard time grabbing ahold of anything because of the foam type thing on the top, and the vice grips I tried didn't have much room in there. Tried doing something like this but didn't want to bash the shops tools too much
 
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On some shocks the top doesn't have flats, Bilstines have an Alan key recess... That split open when I tried to use it so I used a grinder to cut the shaft.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.
 
They should still be stock, heres a picture:

IMG_2441-1.JPG

IMG_2441-1.JPG
 
You have plenty of room to slip a grinder in just above the shock tower and cut the nut off.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.
 
tomtaylz said:
Gotcha, I was having a hard time grabbing ahold of anything because of the foam type thing on the top, and the vice grips I tried didn't have much room in there. Tried doing something like this but didn't want to bash the shops tools too much
Click to expand...
Nice video of the outside of his fender flare, but not much else...
 
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In addition to the method I recommended above, visegrips can be used to hold the strut so a deep socket on an extension can be used from the top to unscrew the nut.
 
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