HELP - Shock Assy. Stuck/Rusted to Frame Mount...

[mr_souc]

Hey all, looking for some ideas...

2012 4Runner, SR5 w/ 130k miles...

80% through the driver side SR5 to TRD Pro coil and shock assy. suspension upgrade, I straight up could NOT get the goddamn stock shock to come out of the perch on the frame...

Tried all the typical options, heat, hammer, bfh, prybar, chisel and hammer, even reassembled everything to try bouncing on it... Nothing, no movement...

The three 14mm bolts on the top hat are off, the 19mm on the bottom of the shock is out (I can wiggle by hand the whole assy.), the 17mm UCA upper ball joint bolt is out and the whole LCA is hanging free... I also loosened the 22mm LCA bolts to allow a little more room to beat on things and still nothing...

Any ideas? I have beat on and ****ed with this thing for almost 2 hours with no luck... (haven't even started the passenger side too). I'm out of ideas other then reassembly again, and taking it to a local shop do it...

It's unbelievable, I'm guessing the difficulty is due to the wear & tear from millage. I have done two Tacoma suspension lifts (2011 and a 2014) and the shock assy. slid right out. I also recently did a suspension lift in my 2014 Tundra, same thing no problem, the shock assy. slid right out slicker than snot on a doorknob. I've NEVER had this much of an issue evah... Pissed me right off mistah!

Thanks all!

 

[rdruss]

Take a chisel and whack the edge of the top hat, you're probably going to want to replace top hats anyway so dent in it won't hurt. I'd go ahead and remove the shock and spring assy and then just deal with the top hat.

 

[DMV4runner]

Just went through the same thing with my 2012 Le while changing out the XERAS. I kept spraying the bracket from the bottom and the top. Spent some time tapping the bracket with a hammer to get the PB to penetrate. I used a screwdriver to wedge into the bottom side of the bracket between the top hat and bracket and break the seal.