rear suspension problem

[sultan]

i'm trying to change out my rear shocks, but can't get the lower mounting bolts out. i've tried hosing it with wd40, air tools, and brute force. the only time the bolt moved was when i torched it, but even then it was really hard and the nut moved with it so it didn't loosen. is there some special way to do this, or did the shop that put the eibachs on 1 1/2 years ago torque it way too much? i'm considering cutting the bolt, and getting new ones.

[911/Q45]

I've done this twice and never had trouble, even on the car that spent 4 years in the salt. Did you put a wrench on the back when you air wrenched it to hold the nut? You can usually find a suspension piece to brace the wrench on. Are you sure you're turning it the right way?(I had to ask) Is the suspension unloaded? You might try disconnecting the top mount first to be sure it's not loaded. Keep us posted!

[4cefed]

Ever sprayed WD40 on something and had it come off? I didn't think so. You can try letting some PB Blaster soak on it for a while, this is the only penetrating oil I've found that works. If you can pound on the head or the nut with an air chisel sometimes that losens stuff up. As a general rule, anytime you bolt something on that you want to get back off someday, put some anti-sieze on it. Good luck, I've been in your shoes many times before.

[ponytrekker]

Mine was on pretty tight as well, as soon as I swithed to a breaker bar I had no problem. I anchored the nut with a wrench and used the breaker bar on the bolt head. I also had to tap the bolt out after the nut came loose, but be careful you are not thrashing threads when you do this.

If you don't have a breaker bar you can use a 3/4 inch 1-2 foot long metal pipe to get added leverage on your ratchet handle, same principle.

Good luck. Jay

[Sopdadope]

Had the same exact problem two weeks ago except on a 300z, not a Q.

The local "tuning shop" over-torqued the bolts so much the forks on the shock absorbers were bent. I ended up using a dremel and slicing that baby right off. For your own sanity, buy a new bolt and cut that one right off. Forcing the bolt out with a breaker bar could damage the arms (yours and the cars).

[ponytrekker]

Should have specified that I needed very little force on the breaker bar approach. Think in terms of added leverage, not breaking something. Slicing (cutting) your bolt should be your last resort.

[Mayhem_J30]

hope you're using a good socket, wrench 6pt so to help prevent stripping

Throw some dollar bills at it, that usually makes things come off. :icesangel

[sultan]

please help again. i decided to cut them off, so i got new bolts. so i removed the lower bolt and the two top nuts and i can't get the shock out. the shock sits in line with where the lower bolt goes through, even without the bolt in. i tried moving the shock but it won't budge, it just stays where it is. do i have to loosen the top shock nut? if so, how?

[DAEDALUS]

You should loosen the 2 top nuts to prevent damaging the mounting frame. They're behind the vertical trim piece covering the fuel tank. The nuts are 12mm I think. Even then, the shock won't come easily. Pry carefully with a breaker bar or pipe.

[sultan]

i did loosen them, yes they're 12mm. i pushed it as hard as i could, i even gave it a kick but it won't move. i tried using an 18" wrecking bar but i couldn't find anything to brace it on.

[DAEDALUS]

It may be caught on the bushing a bit. Take a large flatblade screwdriver and try prying the strut's lower mounting flange off it's bushing. Work it from both sides till it's off center and about to give, then remove the top nuts.

[AZhitman]

Mine did this as well. Place the jack cradle under the lower strut mount and pry the the two sides of the lower mount away. Then you'll need to "compress" the shock a little as it actually has to ride UP a fraction of a mm to get off the lower mounting point. I used a crowbar between the strut and the mount, but you could also put the edge of the jack cradle under one ear of the lower mount, jack it up a hair and then pivot it out and away from the mount.

[maxnix]

Hey, AZhitman, I got dibs on the Phillps countersunk over the French tricolor! Don't get any fancy ideas.

[Sopdadope]

Sultan,

Before you end up smashing in all your windows in a blind fit of rage, I recommend you try PB Blaster spray lubricant. This stuff is a million times more effective than WD40 and was worth its weight in gold the last couple of times I did suspenson conversions. It's available at Autozone and Pep Boys. Good shiznit I tell you.