2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission HELP!! Front shock removal - 2001

[stownsend]

I'm right in the middle of replacing the front shocks and I can't get the lower mounting bolt to pull out! I was able to get the nut off but now the bolt won't pull out. Is there some other retainer that I can't see?



Please respond if you know how to help.



Thanks,

Steve

 

[DavidC]

No retainer that I know of. Can you turn the bolt with a wrench. I have had bolts seize to the metal sleeves before and took some persuasion to remove, this may be your case.



Dave

 

[ttbird]

Did you take the top nut off and take the shock out of it's bind. The lower bolt always is frozen due to it's position and weather. Spray it well, try turning while spraying. Put the nut on the bolt so it flush with the bolt and hit it with a large hammer. Nut will protect the threads on the bolt. Use alot of penetrating spray and take your time, you'll get

 

[stownsend]

Top nut and tower is off. The bottom bolt turns it just won't pull out. I'll try putting the shoulder nut part way back on and smacking it. Right now I have the need to smack somthing.



Thanks for the quick responses. You are all a great bunch of people.



Steve

 

[DavidC]

Right now I have the need to smack somthing.





Steve

Uh oh, where's the dog :-laf



Dave

 

[stownsend]

Oh... my... god! I blocked out the afternoon to do the shocks but I had no idea that it would be that tough. The hardest part of the whole job was getting the bottom bolt out of the shock. I had to hammer the bolt the entire length! It wasn't just a couple of smacks to get it loose. I could turn the bolt but it wasn't moving out. The bushing had a death grip on the bolt so I had to muscle it until it fell on the floor. (I feel a double wiskey coming on. )



All done now. I just installed the Bilstein 5100 series. They look great. I can't wait to feel how they ride on highway and off-road!



Thanks again for the TDR gang for helping out a fellow member!



Steve

 

[stownsend]

By the way; the dog is safe for now. However, I exposed the neighbors to a stream of explicatives that won't soon be forgot.

 

[Nate]

Haha.



I live near a park and one day a lady came over and asked me if I could stop swearing cause her kids could her me. F@$@#$ing truck! :-laf

 

[Cummins Pilot]

I'm doing my shocks later today. Hope mine don't give me that much trouble. Maybe I'll go dump some diesel on the bolts before I go to bed.

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Getting the parts out the first time is the tough part. "For the second time…there's never-seize!!" Apply liberally when reassembling to the point of exhilaration.

 

[Joe Mc]

"For the second time…there's never-seize!!"

Messy a_s s_ _t, but it does do the trick.