Front shock removal

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Challenger2
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Front shock removal

Unread post by Challenger2 » September 2nd, 2017, 12:07 pm

Hi guys,
Firstly - can I send best wishes and support in our thoughts to any members in Texas and Louisiana and others affected by the floods which we in the UK are watching closely.

So... (and probably not that important in the great scheme of things) I am taking the front suspension/brakes on my 77 A2 apart to clean, blast, paint and renew where necessary. The vehicle is on its rear wheels with the front wheels, brakes and hubs removed and the spindle support and ball joints in place. It is on stands under the body close to the front bumper.

The plan is to disassemble down to, and remove the front suspension cross member. Going with TM 9-23200218-20 removing the shocks and the springs looks simple. To take out the springs the manual says to support the lower suspension arm with a hydraulic jack and says to remove the bottom nut and washers on the shock and the oval shock mount. With the shock now free I planned to drop the lower suspension arm, take off the top shock nut, and take out the shock along with the spring. I have got as far as being able to remove the bolts holding the oval shock mount and turn it to face the opening beneath - but the nut on the bottom of the shock will not turn without turning the shock body.

It could be seized - it had surface rust and a thick layer of underseal. This was removed, the nut and thread below was well wire brushed and the joint between the nut and the suspension arm was cleaned out with a dental pick and my favourite penetrant release liquid was applied. IMO the level of rust was the same as all the other nuts which turned today using the same method - but this darn nut still turns the shock body!

Going back to the manual I see the specific method for removing the shock says the vehicle should be supported at the front but does not mention supporting the suspension arm with a jack or removing the lower ball joint as per the spring.

So, is it a question of the loading/unloading on the suspension being crucial for removing the shock and/or the spring?

Mark
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Re: Front shock removal

Unread post by Mark » September 2nd, 2017, 12:49 pm

I'd use a spring compressor, I would heat up the nut with a torch
mark


1968 m274A5
1960 m151
1981 m151A2
1964 m416
1971 m416

on-to-berlin
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Re: Front shock removal

Unread post by on-to-berlin » September 5th, 2017, 2:45 pm

I had the same problem on my 73 A2. It sat outside for a while and the whole nut was rusted together with the shock.
I went the brutal way and caryfully cut the nut in several places until it came lose.
1939 Harley Davidson U
1944 Harley Davidson WLA
1944 Willys MB
1969 Ford Mutt A1
1973 AM General Mutt A2

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rickf
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Re: Front shock removal

Unread post by rickf » September 5th, 2017, 3:42 pm

The shock usually has a hex on the end of the shaft a wrench fits on to hold it while you turn the nut. If this hex is not there or rounded off then splitting the nut is about the only choice. There are a lot of tools out there just for that job, just Google "nut splitter".

Here is just one of them, I have used this one in the past with good results. I also have a OTC one.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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fergrn37
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Re: Front shock removal

Unread post by fergrn37 » September 5th, 2017, 4:17 pm

rick - pic fail.
Some people are too busy knowing it all to ever learn anything

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rickf
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Re: Front shock removal

Unread post by rickf » September 6th, 2017, 11:50 am

1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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