98 Explorer rear shock install question

[BubbaFL]

It's finally time to replace the factory shocks on my '98 Explorer XLT, 4-door 2wd.

The rear shocks came off easily - took the spare tire off, removed a couple bolts, and they came right off.

The new ones are Monroe gas-matics (cheapest they had at Advanced Auto Parts). Both of the replacements came with new upper bolts and nuts. The old shocks had some kind of threaded studs pressed in to the upper part of the shock.

I'm having a problem installing the new Monroe shocks - the nuts that came with the upper mounting bolts will only go on about a quarter of an inch by hand, then they get really hard to turn. Am I supposed to just get a couple of big wrenches and torque these suckers down, or did I get the wrong bolts? I'm afraid to just tighten them down and create a major stuck bolt problem the next time I go to change the shocks.

Thanks in advance!

Bubba

 

[MountaineerGreen]

They are self locking nuts- they should be "tight" as you tighten them up. They won't back off on you. Its all good.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

They are self locking nuts- they should be "tight" as you tighten them up. They won't back off on you. Its all good.

What Evan said.

 

[BubbaFL]

Thanks!

Thanks for the quick answer to a "stupid" question. Got the new shocks in - what a difference! The truck still had the original factory shocks from '98.

 

[Rupp]

Another question on getting the rears off. On the drivers side rear the bolt closest to the tire, theres a metal plate preventing me from accessing the nut. Are there any "interior" access points to make it easier to get to these rear top bolts?

 

[carlover]

Just unbolt the metal plate and move it out of the way.