Yep, don't even have to drive in in the snow and ice on salted roads, stuff will sit there and rust completely away without ever getting it wet.
The Usual Rear Shock Problems
- Thread starter Zorba
- Start date
I lived in The Presidio, 200 yards from Baker Beach and everything crusted over there.
Mine didn't even look as rusty as those. I emptied a can of liquid wrench onto the nuts over the course of a month or so. All four snapped.
Luck of the draw I guess.
OP
Ok, the bitches are out. Thanx to @mrblaine 's advice about shifting the shock over a bit. The two passenger side bolts broke off, the two driver's side came out. Given the choice, I'm glad it happened that way as there's a bit more room on the passenger side to deal with the broken bolts.
Sweet!
Your making progress on a multiple front war !
Coolant loss - check !
Shock removal - check !
Engine oil loss - check !
Door sill paint wear - check !
Now get those damn bolts addressed and replace them OEM shocks with some sweet Rough Country Shocks.
Oh by the way Zorba , get this crap done so you can work on something " Fun " like the rear bumper project !
Before we are ALL too old to see what the finished product looks like on a computer screen !!!!!
OP
Naw, got me some Ranchos - for better or worse:Sweet!
Your making progress on a multiple front war !
Coolant loss - check !
Shock removal - check !
Engine oil loss - check !
Door sill paint wear - check !
Now get those damn bolts addressed and replace them OEM shocks with some sweet Rough Country Shocks.
Oh by the way Zorba , get this crap done so you can work on something " Fun " like the rear bumper project !
Before we are ALL too old to see what the finished product looks like on a computer screen !!!!!
Not sure how I'm going to deal with the two broken bolts as yet - will just try the various things until something works - then I'll have to prime/paint before mounting the shocks.
Drove the jeep off the end of my driveway just to see what it would do without any shocks whatsoever. BOINGA-BOINGA!!
In the words of Foghorn , " It's a joke son , a funny ".
Glad you went with the Ranchos. When did they go with Red paint ? When you say Rancho I think White !
OP
Everybody here sez the Ranchos have shitty paint and to paint them before installation. I had the red paint on hand, it matches the Jeep and the boots, so on it went! Oh, and thanx fer the clue!In the words of Foghorn , " It's a joke son , a funny ".
Glad you went with the Ranchos. When did they go with Red paint ? When you say Rancho I think White !
OP
OP
It took me all fookin' day, but one of the two broken bolts and its associated nut has been taken care of. It involved using the largest Dremel cut-off wheel I could find (1-1/2"), two 12 inch long drill bits, two regular length drill bits, a custom made 15 inch long 1/2" tapered drift with a BFH, and an extensive vocabulary! And thank Goddess I have a drill bit sharpener - the hole eventually got out of round and killed drill bits fast. I'd just sharpen and continue. Best thing ever invented.
Tomorrow (presumably) I'll move on to the other one.
Tomorrow (presumably) I'll move on to the other one.
Makes me glad I paid my mechanic the $150 to drill out and tap all four rear shock bolts and install the new shocks. Been in the 90's here with the usual high humidity.
Next time fly me down. I'll be more than happy to help you work on your Jeep.
SoCal is nothing compared to what we deal with on the East Coast. The Northern rust belt is the worst. You're lucky to not deal with the crap we see. Rust sucks!
Good news !
Hang in there !
I don't have a bit sharpener , just used a grinder , but half the bit comes out perfect and the other side
not so much
. At times I bet you felt " inspired " to use the BFH a little harder than necessary ! You're almost there , you will feel great when this has been accomplished and the situation can move from
present struggle to bench wrenching , " There was this one time changing rear shocks... "
OP
Yea guys better than I am know how to use a grinder to sharpen drill bits - I've watched machinists do it and they're fast and accurate. That ain't me. The bit sharpener is fantastic! With that said, if I could turn the Jeep on its side for this job, I could use a sledge hammer and go all "Tony Beets" on the thing and not have to drill/grind nearly as much! If wishes were fishes - might as well wish the Jeep would fix itself!Good news !
Hang in there !
I don't have a bit sharpener , just used a grinder , but half the bit comes out perfect and the other side not so much
You're almost there , you will feel great when this has been accomplished and the situation can move from present struggle to bench wrenching , " There was this one time changing rear shocks... "
You're making this way harder than it needs to be. Remove the body bolts, one side at a time, jack up the tub, and hit the welded nuts with this. They come off every time easily. FWIW, it's a lot easier with a body lift. No jacking the tub up required .
https://www.harborfreight.com/air-t.../air-hammers/air-impact-hammer-kit-92037.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/air-t.../air-hammers/air-impact-hammer-kit-92037.html
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Rud Bobbins
Member
Love reading this thread. Just replaced the front 2 shocks myself, easy peasy. Then snapped the first upper shock bolt in the rear that I tried. Crap. So I'm stopping there, gonna leave it to a professional to take care of the rears. Best laid plans...
SonOfAnakin
Member
My plans for tomorrow included replacing the rear shocks. I saw this thread and now I’m worried I’m going to make a mess of it. $150 to have a pro do it sounds like a good deal. But I’ll be disappointed in myself if I don’t get through it.
Grrr.
Grrr.