removing rear shock

[bryancostanich]

hey all,

i'm installing the toytec ultimate lift and i'm having trouble removing the rear shock. i removed the lower bolt, and dropped the axle, but the shock doesn't want to come out. i reached around to the top (in that little space that's hard to get at) and it feels like there is a bolt up there. is there? how the hell am i supposed to get it out, if so?

am i missing something?

 

[DeTwizzle]

yes, there is a bolt there. it is a 10mm or 12mm i believe. you gotta get a extended socket and get under there and get to crankin with ur ratchet.

 

[TheDurk]

Pretty sure the stockers I had took a 14mm deep socket. For the factory Tokicos, the easy way is a breaker bar on the top nut, remove lower bolt and then take a real big pair of Channelocks to the steel upper shock boot. It will snap off right at the nut. Faster than a wrench or a Sawzall. This won't work on a shock with a rubber boot or a beefy top stud.

 

[J-money$$$]

hey all,

i'm installing the toytec ultimate lift and i'm having trouble removing the rear shock. i removed the lower bolt, and dropped the axle, but the shock doesn't want to come out. i reached around to the top (in that little space that's hard to get at) and it feels like there is a bolt up there. is there? how the hell am i supposed to get it out, if so?

am i missing something?

.....................
Good luck with that.......

 

[auxiliary]

This is the easiest....and most fun way to get it out.
Ok here is the best way to do it!

Drill a hole into the shock. Stick a screw driver into it. All the way in one side and out the other.

Put a wrench on the PITA bolt and get it pressed against the body/frame.

Grab the handle of the screwdriver and turn it. Take screw driver out...put it in going the other way from exit hole to the other hole. Turn it again. Wash, rinse, repeat and you will unscrew the shock from the bolt.

 

[maxspeed96ct]

I hear a pipe wrench or a good set of vise grips is the way to go. Just crank the strut rod to help it break loose.

I havent done it myself yet, but its in my near future. And my bolt looks like its on there good. I cant believe toyota didnt give better access to the top bolt..

 

[Ghostrider]

Yep it's a pain. I hit mine with PB Blaster and then used a strap wrench and finally a pipe wrench on the body. I had a deep socket on the nut and the socket braced on the frame. It would be very nice it auto makers actually forced their designers to do routine maintenance. It might change some of the stupid designs like this

 

[bryancostanich]

i wound up with a pipe wrench on the body and a socket up top (after i cleaned it off with a wire brush because it was corroded). the thing finally just snapped off. the other one was fine.

 

[Nelsonmd]

angle grinder. Cut mine off no problem.

 

[econhonda]

I used a pipe wrench when removing my used stock shocks, but when I took off my OME's a couple months ago, I didn't want to damage them. I ended up grinding down an open end wrench so it was narrow enough to slide over the fitting at the top of the shock, but beneath the bushing on the top mount. Then the deep socket on top actually has something to torque against. It was a pain, but it didn't put a scratch on my shocks. Good luck!

 

[fightman80]

I hear a pipe wrench or a good set of vise grips is the way to go. Just crank the strut rod to help it break loose.

I havent done it myself yet, but its in my near future. And my bolt looks like its on there good. I cant believe toyota didnt give better access to the top bolt..

We used a pipe wrench on the shock body, and a socket on the top nut. The Shocks top bolt just snapped.