I'm installing my lift and am having a hell of a time getting the rear shocks off. The top nut is on there and will not turn. When I apply lots of pressure the shock housing turns. I've tried to hold ths shock from turning and it wont budge. Would a air wrench be a good idea? I cant get much up in there since I have no body lift. Any ideas? I have sprayed oil on it for about 7 days straight still stuck.

 

I used to have a '91 4runner, and when I changed my shocks I had to get a wrench in there on the top nut and wedge it. Then I used a large set of channel locks and kept twisting the top part of the shock until sheared the bolt off--I hope that makes sense to you, kinda hard to write! Good Luck

 

Anglegrinder.... just cut off the shaft...

30 seconds and some sparks and you'll be on to the next step in your project.

 

I hit mine with PB Blaster and used a stilson pipe wrench to turn the base while wedging a wrench on the top... All Toyota had to do to make this a ten minute job was to have a pre cut hole for the top nut that a socket extension would fit. A small rubber plug could fill it and everything would be easy. Not sure it will help but for the future I put anti sieze on the threads and added a piece of plastic tubing on the shaft to try and keep moisture off the threads.

 

When I did mine, there was a large metal collar on the shock shaft right below the mount which would not let me pull it up through the mounting hole. I could not get a saw in there close enough to cut above this collar. I had to fight with it until the top nut finally broke off.

 

Mine weren't too much trouble, i just tried to turn the nut while I had a friend grab the shock down below and hold it in place as best they could. It worked for me.

 

Every time i have changed the rear shock on a runner (twice) i had a strong buddy hold the shock housing while i cranked on the nut with a breaker bar. I used a small rachet with a bottle jack lever (hallow cylinder) fit over the end of the ratchet. Or if you don't want the shock there are pipe wrenches that will grip and destroy to your delight.

 

I wedged the ratchet against the sheet metal, and just used a pipe wrench to turn the shock housing.

 

mine i used a sawzall didint even wanna mess with them

 

^^ Yup. Wish I would've just cut them off to begin with.

 

If you are not going to reuse them...cut them off at the top or cut the rod. Don't cut the shock body as it is under pressure.

 

rubber strap wrench with a box wrench on the nut...turn the strap wrench

 

I used a high speed pneumatic cutting wheel. You need to cut the chrome rod as high up to the mounting cup as possible, if you get too low you'll get doused with shock fluid as Wab mentioned.

 

Cut them suckers off! There a pain to say the least, I speak from experience! I don't care how long you soak'em in pb blaster or whatever. Your going to end up rounding the nut off as many times as you try to turn it. Call me a pessimist, but if there the original shocks like mine were, your better off getting a cutting or grinding wheel and cutting right at the shaft where the bushing is. I was in the same predicament your in just look at my thread on the same thing:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/r...-budge-105599/

 

Used a die grinder to cut the shocks off. Cut through the first one but the second one I didn't make a mess.

 

thanks for all the info! Off to the store this weekend for a saw!

 

Have you tried a big A$$ pipe wrench. They hold the shock really good. That's how I got mine off. Where are you located?

 

Ditto except I turned the one on top and used a crow's foot attachment. Standard box wrench could not clear the angle.

Seemed more effective even without PB Blaster. Strap wrench is a miracle tool in my experience.

Had to use a 3/8" breaker bar on the nut and a crescent wrench on the top stud during installation though. The piston rod did not have the housing (Tokico) and the diameter of was too small for a strap wrench. Wrapping layers of a particular material to thicken the diameter and create a surface that won't slip when the strap wrench is applied is a possible solution for next time.

 

Dont bother with any other method....CUT THEM OFF... manually or by torch....CAREFULL NOW... STEADY...Steady now... those suckers are under major pressure

 

cut the sucker off. im so glad i dont live somewhere where they salt the roads... mine were the original shocks when i replaced em, they came right off.