Front & rear shock removal RESOLVED FINALLY

[4uall]

originally I posted this http://forum.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtop ... 14&t=13646 and I have always been a visual learner so I picked up some Monroe Sensa trac`s and I am ready to take the plunge Photos are always encouraged and appreciated.

1) is this the top nut that needs to be removed first ?


front shock absorber top nut? by itzebtze, on Flickr

2) how on earth do I get to the drivers side? Looks near impossible to get in there.

3) then remove lower bolt & nut?


Passenger side tire by itzebtze, on Flickr

[fiat218]

It a bitch. Lol

[81SPIDERMATT]

it helps if you loosen that top nut while the weight of the car is on the wheels..... jack her up.... loosen the bottom and they fall right out

[RRoller123]

The driver's side top nut is done with a short wrench and by feel. You can get about a 1/8 turn per wrench application. It is a pita for sure.

[fiat218]

The driver's side top nut is done with a short wrench and by feel. You can get about a 1/8 turn per wrench application. It is a pita for sure.

I agree

[focodave]

I agree with 81SPIDERMATT's method.
I just rebuilt my suspension over the past couple of weeks so I have recent experiences.
Reaching the nut is truly a pita.
Looks like you may want to hit it with some PB Blaster.
That will help get things turning.
Otherwise you will need to try to keep the shaft from turning with a much smaller wrench and that is dam-near impossible with such tight space.
You will need a 14mm combination wrench to do the job.
Just be patient --- you will only get a fraction of a turn each time you try to move the wrench. Flip it, and turn again -- repeat, etc, etc.
Good news -- the passenger's side is much easier to get to from underneath the car, reaching up into the area where the nut is located.

[fiat218]

I agree with 81SPIDERMATT's method.
I just rebuilt my suspension over the past couple of weeks so I have recent experiences.
Reaching the nut is truly a pita.
Looks like you may want to hit it with some PB Blaster.
That will help get things turning.
Otherwise you will need to try to keep the shaft from turning with a much smaller wrench and that is dam-near impossible with such tight space.
You will need a 14mm combination wrench to do the job.
Just be patient --- you will only get a fraction of a turn each time you try to move the wrench. Flip it, and turn again -- repeat, etc, etc.
Good news -- the passenger's side is much easier to get to from underneath the car, reaching up into the area where the nut is located.

i used a super big channel lock piers and gripped it on the upper part that turns, i had to go uner the spring and do it, put that on and wired the handle close and twist the wire so it held tight, then as the whole shaft turn it would catch on the spring or where ever , came off then, other wise like u sayd 2 wrenches

[focodave]

Fiat 218,
Yep.
That would work -- or small vice-grips.
Any way you cut it, it's a major pita.
It's easy to imagine why Fiat North America failed.
I can see some Chrysler mechanic, long ago, cussing the living daylights out of these cars and just either giving up on them or doing sub-standard work on them in protest of their tight spaces to work, metric sized hardware, etc, etc..

[4uall]

it helps if you loosen that top nut while the weight of the car is on the wheels..... jack her up.... loosen the bottom and they fall right out

soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I actually had no issues removing both top nuts and rubber bushings from both driver and passenger sides. Sprayed copious amounts of penetrating oil. Used an extension rod and a flex connect on the ratchet and off they came

Now when it came to removing the lower bolt I have the nut off however, I cannot get the bolt off/thru


Front shock lower bolt by itzebtze, on Flickr

[djape1977]

get a bigger hamer

[focodave]

4Uall,

You need to get the pressure off of the shock by jacking the car up by the crossmember, now that you have the upper nuts completely off the shock(s).
Were you able to rotate the lower shock mounting bolt by putting a wrench on the bolt head and turning?
You may want to try that, along with PB Blaster and, of course, a hammer and something (bar stock?) to drive the thing out all the way.

Focodave

[4uall]

so mission accomplished

picked up a 3lb hammer from HD and quickly came to realize that I now own a 3lb hammer for future use


my BFH 3lb Estwing by itzebtze, on Flickr

this is what I discovered


lower bolt had fused itself to the inner bushing sleeve by itzebtze, on Flickr


Original front shock and lower bolt fused with inner shaft of bushings by itzebtze, on Flickr

sawzall'd the bolt then installed the new ones


New Monroe Sensatrac front shock and bolt by itzebtze, on Flickr


New front shock lower bolt by itzebtze, on Flickr

the passengers side was completed in approx 5min from start to finish because the bolt just came right out smoothly

thanks for all the help, now on to the rears next weekend..................any advice?

[Wheel]

Thanks for the helpful thread and photos.
Did you end up cutting the hex bolt head off with a saw?

[4uall]

loving my sawzall right about now

[Wheel]

Best tool ever....after the hammer of course!!
By the way, nice hammer.