Allen130
New member
My friend and I attempted to change the rear shocks on my '97. They were definitely the originals and didn't provide any protection. I bought OEM replacements from the dealership.
In attempting to get one of the shocks off, the bolt head at the bottom of the shock sheared off. When using a tap and die to get thread inside the remaining bolt, the tap broke off inside the drilled hole internal to the bolt. Also tried to weld a nut on top of the broken bolt to then apply torque and turn it out, no luck there. There is 17 years of rust and crap accumulated, and we had no other move.
So it's been sitting at the dealership all day, and they finally called me to say that they also can't get out that bolt and the arm for the lower shock bracket is bent. They told me they don't do fab parts, so the only option from them is a new $2700 axle housing (so then I'd get two new lower shock brackets), when the only real problem is a sheared off bolt for a shock. Their bottom line is that bracket is unserviceable. They haven't touched the other side, so the other original rear shock is still in place (although blown and useless.) I have no problems/leaks with the rear axle.
I'm thinking of hitting a junk yard to try and cut off a shock mount and then weld it to my axle. Has anyone else gone down this road? Is there something I'm not considering?
I appreciate the input.
In attempting to get one of the shocks off, the bolt head at the bottom of the shock sheared off. When using a tap and die to get thread inside the remaining bolt, the tap broke off inside the drilled hole internal to the bolt. Also tried to weld a nut on top of the broken bolt to then apply torque and turn it out, no luck there. There is 17 years of rust and crap accumulated, and we had no other move.
So it's been sitting at the dealership all day, and they finally called me to say that they also can't get out that bolt and the arm for the lower shock bracket is bent. They told me they don't do fab parts, so the only option from them is a new $2700 axle housing (so then I'd get two new lower shock brackets), when the only real problem is a sheared off bolt for a shock. Their bottom line is that bracket is unserviceable. They haven't touched the other side, so the other original rear shock is still in place (although blown and useless.) I have no problems/leaks with the rear axle.
I'm thinking of hitting a junk yard to try and cut off a shock mount and then weld it to my axle. Has anyone else gone down this road? Is there something I'm not considering?
I appreciate the input.
