old RSMs siezed onto shocks, need clever way to remove

[Nic01101011]

hey guys

the old RSMs are siezed onto the old shocks

no big deal, but I'm away from home and thus have no garage. otherwise a bench vise and mapp gas torch would make short work of this problem

anyone have any clever ideas to get these old things off?

thanks

[Philo]

What is seized up? the nut on top or some other massacre? What tools do you have to work with?

[Nic01101011]

nope i got the nuts off - its just the little metal sleeve in the center of the mount is seized onto the shaft of the shock. its odd, because the car is a california car and i know the shocks were recently put in!

ive got a toolbox with the standard tools - just no vice or torch :P

[Philo]

Put the nut on the end, hold pliers or something similar to the back of the washer (like you are grabbing the strut, but don't), then hit the top nut with a hammer (or screw driver handle if hammer is not found).

Make sure it's over something soft for when it falls.

[Nic01101011]

hmmm. i dont follow.

[Nic01101011]

damn. if the shock towers werent so far inside the trunk itd be easy to just smack it with a hammer

[Philo]

/\/\ Thats what i'm saying. There should be enough room to give it a whack. I thought it was off of the car.

So you separated the bolt at the bottom of the strut and pulled it out? did you try working it around a bit?

[Nic01101011]

oh yeah its out now. taking it off or putting it back in only takes a minute.

but without a bench vise, theres nothing to hold it in place while i wack it.

[Philo]

What did it take to get it off?

[Nic01101011]

the nuts came off easy

[Philo]

Now i'm the confused one. lol

[Nic01101011]

haha ok

[jlevie]

Dowse the area with PBlaster and let it sit for a few hours or overnight. Then start a nut onto the shack shaft, leaving room between the nut and the RSM. Hold the the RSM and strike the nut with a hand sledge. You'll probably need to drop a socket over the shock shaft so that the hammer blow is transmitted directly to the nut.

[Hellabad]

are you reusing the shocks and or shock mounts?


Jay


You cant use a torch. That soft black stuff is "rubber" and is flammable.

[Nic01101011]

nope got new mounts so i dont care about the old ones

thx for the replies.. ill try what was mentioned.