Ok. I admit it. I'm a moron when it comes to mechanics and have zero confidence when it comes to repairs. This weekend I fully intended to replace front shocks, per Andy's write up and thought the job would be a cinch. Wrong The job should be a cinch but I can't get the damn top nut loose I've tried soaking it in Liquid Wrench and tried everything from the smallest open end wrench to a crescent wrench and even the old faithful vise grips and all I've managed to do is smoosh the crap out of the squared end. I even thought about using the vise grips on the threaded portion but didn't want to strip the threads. I know some have ended up cutting the nut off but I'm pretty leary about going that drastic route even though I have a Dremel. The really frustrating thing is that the job looks so simple if only I could get that damn top nut off and I really don't want to have to take it to the shop. Any hints or suggestions?

I'm going to guess that you don't have an impact wrench. Will it not come loose or is the shock turning with the nut? Anyway at this point, why not cut it? You get new nuts and washers with the shocks so anything that's damaged is going to be replaced, regardless.

No impact gun and yes, the shock turns while I try to loosen the nut.

Quote:

Sometimes with an impact you can 'outrun' the turning of the shock. An extra large pair of Channel Locks might be able to hold the upper part of the shock so you can break the nut loose too.

the idea behind the two nuts is to not have any one all that tight.

odd.

I agree, I would get a cutting wheel on that nut and rip it clean off....

On my setup, there is only the top nut. I have to use an open end wrench on the nut and try to hold the shock steady by the little squared off end on top of the shock threads. Must be later year shocks have the two nuts while the early year C4s have the single nut setup. That's why I'm having a tough time getting the shock off, I don't have much to hold onto when I try to wrench the nut off.

the nut count means that those are more than likely ORIGINAL!

All aftermarkets I have ever dealt with have 2 nuts.

Look at the end of the top bolt. You should see the spot where you put an allen wrench. This keeps the bolt from turning while you use a wrench on the nut. Each shock is about a 20 minute job (even the rear should only be about a 30 minute job each)

good point. Some shocks even have a small machined surface that will accept a small wrench.

i feel for ya guy, when i first got mine both front shocks needed replaceing, no matter what i tried, i could not get the P/S top nut free, ended up having to take it to a shop, and even with their impact guns, they ended up having to cut it off.

Time to break out the ol dremel

I had to cut nuts off before and its not too fun with a dremel. You need an impact circular saw with the cutting wheel.

An impact circular saw?? Do you mean an air powered circular saw?

If you can have an IMPACT wrench then you can have an IMPACT saw right :tongue:

No mate, not that im aware of. Impact means that its driven by an internal device that "hammers" the driven output in order to either turn the rotating assembly (impact wrench), or drive it forwards (hammer drill).

Not all air tools are impact driven, in the case of a circular cutting device (saw or grinder) you certainly dont want it to be hammering or youre not going to get a smooth cut, and the blade or cutoff wheel wont last a heart beat.

I am with Casey here... a die grinder is the tool of choice.

It's what I use for cutting off bolts and such that won't otherwise give.

I haven't yet needed to try this on a C4, but back when I was wrenching for a living in a previous life, while changing shocks on older GM cars if I ran into such a stubborn nut that refused to spin free, here's how I'd solve the problem:

I put a deep-well socket onto my longest 1/2" drive extension bar (it's around 36" long), slipped the socket over the nut, and yanked the extension bar back and forth a few times. With the leverage the extension offered, I was easily able to break off the upper stud of the shock below the nut. It quickly ended that annoying obstacle.

FWIW...

Live well,

SJW

Yeah impact is different, just kinda stiring stuff around with that one.