Quick reply please... rear shock replacement

[Buffalosports]

Trying to replace the rear shocks on my 98 Sport. I got the spare pulled down and the back of the truck is jacked. I began by trying to get the top bolts off first because they seemed harder to get at. My shocks are OEM and the bolts seem rounded over and I can not get them off. The bolts that came with my new shocks are 13mm. Should I try and slam on a smalled size (like an 11 or 12) to try and get the old nuts off the bolt? There is very little room up there and I do not see how I can just break them. Any ideas?

 

[Donner]

Good chance you might get the smaller socket stuck too. I don't know if you have enough room, but maybe a small file could slightly flatten two sides of the bolt?

 

[Buffalosports]

Good chance you might get the smaller socket stuck too. I don't know if you have enough room, but maybe a small file could slightly flatten two sides of the bolt?

not sure if there is enough room.

 

[CDW6212R]

I usually use a wrench on those, a 1/2" or 13mm I believe. Take your time with breaking them loose.

 

[Paraphoe]

Got a pair of vice grips? I'd try them. You risk rounding it out worse, but a lot of times you can get enough turns to loosen it up if you grip it tight enough. I ended up taking a hacksaw to my old shock bolts up front because they were impossible to remove.

 

[Donner]

He's got a Sport... the access space is very limited.

 

[Buffalosports]

I usually use a wrench on those, a 1/2" or 13mm I believe. Take your time with breaking them loose.

Yes it is 13mm but they are so rusted, as I turn the wrench, they strip everytime. Plus they where rounded out to begin with. On the pass. side, I slammed a 12mm box wrench on but everytime I turn it just comes right off. I am thinking I got to torch them and then break them but there is so little room I still don't know how I am going to break them.

 

[CDW6212R]

That's what you fear happening, I hope that you can get them out readily.

 

[Lankhimself]

I just did my shocks a couple weeks ago. The bolts on the top mounts of the rear shocks were so badly rusted I couldn't hold a wrench on them without stripping, so I cut them out with a dremel.

 

[Lankhimself]

I just did my shocks a couple weeks ago and the rear top mount bolts were so rusted that I just cut them off with a dremel.