Front shock removal/installation?

Whats the best way to get the upper studs unbolted? Use a Vice grip on top of the stud and use a wrench on the bolts? Some kind of strap wrench on the shock itself? (stock and not too worried about it getting wrecked or breaking studs off) Tried a little today and just kept spinning them...

Also what is the best way to access the drives side upper shock mount (under brake fluid resivior on 4.0) Take out washer tank, flexible socket extension...?

Appreciate any help!

Take a set of vise grips and clamp onto the shaft of the shock and that will give it from spinning

Yeah, if you don't need the old ones clamp omn the shaft with the vice grips. SOmetimes the drivers side is tricky. Get yourself a set of gear wrenches, makes life a lot easier for stuff like that.

xjfish said:

Also what is the best way to access the drives side upper shock mount (under brake fluid resivior on 4.0) Take out washer tank, flexible socket extension...?

Click to expand...

I bought a deep socket and cut it down in height to fit the spot right and then used a flex joint on the end and voila... shock was out.

while you r at it I would highly recommend that you put bar pin eliminators on the bottom and shock conversions on the top. You can get the stuff from JKS

Gee... i just wiggle them back and forth until they snap off... unless I want to actually re-use the shot then its vicegrips and a wrench and bloody knuckles

A variation of what DangerBoy said..... Get a angle grinder with an abarsive cut-off wheel and (like Monica Lewinsky) go at the nuts.

Sorry for the five year old pop culture reference, it just took me that long to come up with it. :dunce:

Burley