Town Car and Bilsteins Shocks

[M Barnett]

Just bought replacement Bilsteins for my 91 town car and the front instalation went great. Had to give up on the back shocks. At the top mount, there is very little access room. I looked and looked in the trunk floor for an access hole to remove the shock bolt and there isn't any. Tried to gain access from the side, over the tire, and there is just enough room to get a wrench on the shock nut but then very little room to turn the nut. It could take hours to turn the locknut in this manor with the long threaded shaft. The new bilstein shock has a socket in the end of the shaft to place a allen wrench to hold while running the nut down. Even if I could remove the old shock, don't know how I could find enough room for two wrenchs to get the new shock on. I am hoping there is a mechanic that reads this that can tell me how to do it. I'm tempted to put an access hole through the trunk.

Thanks for any help

Michael

 

[Scot]

If I am reading this correctly, you have a single stud coming out of the top of the shock. Can you break the nut loose and turn the shock, leaving the wrench stationary?

 

[M Barnett]

Thanks for the reply, Scot, and yes I think your right the shock shaft could be turned with vicegrips while holding the nut. The new shocks have a place in the end of the shaft for an allen wrench to hold it to tighten the nut and I don't know how to keep the shaft from turning as there isn't room above the mounted shock for the allen wrench. Guess I had better plan on drilling a hole through the trunk pan to get access. What a deal!

Thanks again

Michael

 

[QRTRHRS]

Michael,



Two suggestions. Is there enough clearence that you could cut an allen wrench off just leaving a "stub" and hold it with another wrench?



Use a strap wrench on the shock body while tightening an aircraft nut to hold it.

 

[M Barnett]

Thanks for the reply QRTRHRS, and the idea to cut the allen wrench is a good one, I think there is room to make it work. I'm not sure what an aircraft nut is though.

Michael

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by M Barnett

Thanks for the reply QRTRHRS, and the idea to cut the allen wrench is a good one, I think there is room to make it work. I'm not sure what an aircraft nut is though.

Michael

I may have used the wrong term but what I call an aircraft nut is one with the plastic inside that pretty much keeps the nut from coming loose. They go on relatively easy so if you can hold the tube without marring it, that may work.

 

[M Barnett]

Thanks for the help, I understand now. I will try this before I crawl in the trunk with my plasma cutter!

Michael