Shock Nut siezed

[secubis3]

Just got the rear shocks done, but the front shock bolt is totaly siezed.
The garage said the top nut could be heated up but the plastic covering and the bush would melt. :banghead: This was at a garage in Birmingham.

Can anyone point me in the direction of releasing this bolt. I know it will need soaking, but I would like to remove things without damage, :giveup: or would it be better to get a new set of bearings/bush etc and use Mr Forceit to get the job done?

Cheers
S

[steve smith]

there should be a hole in the centre for an allen key to hold the shock still while the nut is undone i use a ring spanner with a bend in it.

[Jumturbo]

If you are changing the front shocks you can simply grind the top nut off. The new shocks come with new nuts anyway. Or are you talking about the 'twin notched' bearing nut that clamps the top spring seat down which you remove once the shock is off the car? If so you can grind the shock spindle in half but make sure you have the spring compressors in place first though!!!! You can then attempt to remove the bearing nut on a bench/vice after a soaking, or get hold of a new nut. You normally need the special 2 prong socket to remove these nuts, but I made my own out of a ring spanner with part of the bottom section of the ring cut away to form two corresponding male notches. Hope you get it off ok.

[secubis3]

Yes it is the twin notched nut that is stuck fast. The garage could not get this off. I have a spare Maestro so could I grind the siezed nut off without destroying the bearings? and use the spare from my breaker.

[Jumturbo]

You will not get your grinder at the notched nut as it sits into the spring cup/bearing assembly. If the old shocks are being discarded, you can grind through the spindle between the spring coils. The shock will simply fall in half releasing the top seat assembly. But make sure your spring compressors are in place!!! Use a spare nut then on the new shock, but keep the old nut in soak for later removal as a spare. all you need is a 4" grinder with metal cutting disc, very easy to cut through a shock spindle, I've done it before and it's like a knife through butter.;)

[E_T_V]

A hacksaw might be safer to avoid damaging the springs (any notch in them may cause the spring to break). It'll be slower but safer.

[mgdavid]

fit the spring compressors and you should be able to unscrew by hand once the pressure is off it