[IcedBlitz]

Hi Everyone,

I was doing a rear strut replacement tonight when I snapped the tip of the shock stem on my rear shock. I was trying to use it to hold counter while I loosened the nut. The nut did not loosen.

I still need to get the nut off to remove the shock, so I'm in kind of a bind.



Anyone experience this before? I was thinking of putting a pair of vice grips on the stem and trying to loosen the nut, but wanted to see if anyone else could offer a solution.

[TheeGovernor]

If you got any kind of impact give it a try. If you have a helper put the vicegrips on the shock shaft in the wheel well

[IcedBlitz]

Originally Posted by TheeGovernor

If you got any kind of impact give it a try. If you have a helper put the vicegrips on the shock shaft in the wheel well

Thanks for the advice. I don't have an impact, but I do have a second set of hands. Could you elaborate on what part of the shock shaft to grab onto? I can't seem to find a place to grab onto on the top half.

[weehe126]

could try and cut a groove in it to hold with a screwdriver. Or go under the car and hold the bottom part with vice grips.

[IcedBlitz]

Originally Posted by weehe126

could try and cut a groove in it to hold with a screwdriver. Or go under the car and hold the bottom part with vice grips.

I like the groove idea. But I seem to have the issue of the bottom part spinning independently of the top half? Like when I hold the bottom still, I can still spin the top freely.

[TheeGovernor]

Right now you are working from the trunk. Go into the wheel well and grab the shaft. You may have to cut the dust cover on the shock to get access.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by weehe126

could try and cut a groove in it to hold with a screwdriver. Or go under the car and hold the bottom part with vice grips.

Cutting a grove is creating a job that isn't there. Visegrips advice is 100% better.

[parksjm7]

Originally Posted by feuer

Cutting a grove is creating a job that isn't there. Visegrips advice is 100% better.

+1 - I got out of the same situation with vice grips - lift up the dust boot cover and grip the shock shaft from below

[thakid22]

Vice grips are definitely the way to go.
But be sure not to grab the shock rod bare.
Wrap some garden hose or rubber around it so that the vice grips don't scratch the naked strut rod.
If you leave, even a slight scratch, on the rod it will damage the shock seals when you start drive again.
The will cause leaking, loss of pressure, and ultimately failure.

[Hierlevelz]

Originally Posted by IcedBlitz

Hi Everyone,

I was doing a rear strut replacement tonight when I snapped the tip of the shock stem on my rear shock. I was trying to use it to hold counter while I loosened the nut. The nut did not loosen.

I still need to get the nut off to remove the shock, so I'm in kind of a bind.



Anyone experience this before? I was thinking of putting a pair of vice grips on the stem and trying to loosen the nut, but wanted to see if anyone else could offer a solution.

OP I imagine the shock is being replaced then cut the nut off with a DreMel.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by thakid22

Vice grips are definitely the way to go.
But be sure not to grab the shock rod bare.
Wrap some garden hose or rubber around it so that the vice grips don't scratch the naked strut rod.
If you leave, even a slight scratch, on the rod it will damage the shock seals when you start drive again.
The will cause leaking, loss of pressure, and ultimately failure.

Not necessary! Pull the bump stop down and grab the shaft by the mount. That area WILL NEVER get compressed into the shock body to be causing any problems.

[GMWNashville]

vice grips on the shaft in the wheel well should work if you are replacing the strut.