Thread: Can't figure this out

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I noticed oily residue on the lower control arm of my 36 pickup street rod. Upon closer look it appeared the coilover shock was broken. It had a kink in the middle of it.

After getting it up in the air I could see that the disk that keeps the rod centered had come out of the shock tube. The photo below is after releasing the top mount so it looks centered but you can see the threads that should be inside the tube.

I backed off the spring tension and got the top mount released. Now I can't get the bottom off. The mounting bolt goes through the lower control arm, shock and sway bar end. The bolt turns freely, the shock moves freely but the bolt won't come out. I'm thinking the sway bar might be binding it but I don't know where to start to release that tension. I tried a jack under the control arm but that didn't help.

Sorry about the picture sizes. I don't know how to make them smaller.

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Sounds like you're turning the right things.. I just noticed in the bottom picture, is that a screw that goes into the shock? maybe it acts as a setscrew? See if it'll come out. Then try to see if the bolt moves.

Or maybe set the nut onto the bolt to protect the threads and smack it with a hammer to loosen the bolt.

I initially thought that set screw was the problem and had already loosened it. Then I realized it wasn't even in line with the bolt. I had already tried the hammer too. I have some play at the bushing between the shock and sway bar end so have decided the sway bar isn't the problem. The bolt turns so it's not stuck to the shock or control arm. Now I'm thinking maybe the bolt is bound to the bushing in the shock mount. That would explain why it turns but won't slide. But how do I get that loose?

Al, I'd say you're going to have to hit the bolt harder, knowing that you may be sacrificing it by ruining the threads. Like Mike says, a nut on the end may protect the threads, but there's not a lot of projection there. Maybe an air hammer?

Have you jacked up the frame of the truck to let the a arm hang free and take the tension off of it

Originally Posted by ted dehaan

Have you jacked up the frame of the truck to let the a arm hang free and take the tension off of it

Yes, it's been hanging free the whole time. I've been whacking it with a 5 pound hammer and it hasn't budged.

Sawzall... cut the bolt. if you can, squeeze inside the mount = if not cut outside so you can at least get the swaybar out of the way. The shock might be able to get rebuilt if you know who made it. I think it had a "kink" that shows in the body didn't it?

If you have a set of acet/oxy torches you could try some heat. but without a laser type temp tool, I wouldn't try to get it to hot. If you can get it hot enough, you might be able to start moving it.

Maybe I'm wrong here but you could take the sway bar off both ends and get it out of the way.

Originally Posted by 34_40

Sawzall... cut the bolt. if you can, squeeze inside the mount = if not cut outside so you can at least get the swaybar out of the way. The shock might be able to get rebuilt if you know who made it. I think it had a "kink" that shows in the body didn't it?

If you have a set of acet/oxy torches you could try some heat. but without a laser type temp tool, I wouldn't try to get it to hot. If you can get it hot enough, you might be able to start moving it.

A sawzall has crossed my mind. I have a full weekend so it has to sit for a few days now.

Originally Posted by DennyW

Have you tried a coil spring compressor to relieve any pressure from top to bottom ?

I backed off the spring adjustment to relieve pressure and got the top mount off. There's no pressure on the lower mounting bolt. It appears to be frozen to the bushing inside the lower end of the shock. The bolt will rotate, it just won't slide out.

Originally Posted by 34_40

Sawzall... cut the bolt. if you can, squeeze inside the mount = if not cut outside so you can at least get the swaybar out of the way. The shock might be able to get rebuilt if you know who made it. I think it had a "kink" that shows in the body didn't it?

If you have a set of acet/oxy torches you could try some heat. but without a laser type temp tool, I wouldn't try to get it to hot. If you can get it hot enough, you might be able to start moving it.

What I meant by kink is that the shock rod is not in alignment with the shock body. The disk that's supposed to fit inside the tube and maintain alignment came out of the tube. After I got pressure off it the rod moves around like something is broken inside the tube. There's no damage I can see to the tube. I can't find any markings to tell me who made the shock.

Originally Posted by Al G

What I meant by kink is that the shock rod is not in alignment with the shock body. The disk that's supposed to fit inside the tube and maintain alignment came out of the tube. After I got pressure off it the rod moves around like something is broken inside the tube. There's no damage I can see to the tube. I can't find any markings to tell me who made the shock.

I could visualize what you meant in my head when you first said the top came off. The rod that travels down inside is connected to a piston that contains various sized valves. if the piston has been allowed to "cock" in the bore, it's trash now, it'll be deformed and won't seal properly. But if the outer bore ( the tube ) is ok, it should be rebuild-able (but don't hold your breath).

Speedway has a division that rebuild shocks - AFCO - , but first you need to get the sucker out. As Charlie says above, maybe remove the other fasteners and get all the "stuff" out of the way so you can really hit it. And maybe you can beg borrow rent an impact air hammer? Or - if the shock mount gives you the room, cut the bolt. If you do use a sawzall, put some vice grips on the bolt to stop it from spinning and wasting your efforts. BTDT...

Al,
You made it clear from the start that the top mount is loose, all tension is removed and the bolt turns freely but won't slide out of the lower mount. I'm wondering if the bolt has worn a "notch" over time, like perhaps the lower shock end has now dropped down some amount into a wide groove, forming a lip that's holding the bolt? Can you perhaps lever the bottom of the shock up as you turn the bolt, and try to tap it out of place? It may take another pair of hands to do all of that at once. If it's not eroded into a step, I'd say cutting it out is the only thing left, like Mike suggests.

Drill it out from the bolt head end with different size drills up to the diameter of the bolt-------don't be a hammer mechanic!!!!!!!!!

Under the theory that there is a worn notch in the bolt. spin it 90 degrees and smack it.. if it doesn't move, spin it 90 degrees and try again, and a third time if needed. What the heck, it won't cost you anything to try right??? LOL.