Thought this would be an easy job. Got the new Bilstein HD on the front and started doing the rear. the nut at the top has been difficult the entire way so far I'm using a snap-on ratchet wrench and a small crescent wrench to hold the top. I'm not at the point of the nut reaching the top of the shaft so I only have like two more threads or so and it's free. can't seem to figure a way to hold the shaft and was planning on putting these on ebay afterward so don't want to screw them up. Any thoughts.
Thought this would be an easy job. Got the new Bilstein HD on the front and started doing the rear. the nut at the top has been difficult the entire way so far I'm using a snap-on ratchet wrench and a small crescent wrench to hold the top. I'm not at the point of the nut reaching the top of the shaft so I only have like two more threads or so and it's free. can't seem to figure a way to hold the shaft and was planning on putting these on ebay afterward so don't want to screw them up. Any thoughts.
Try using an open end wrench for the big nut also. That way you can use the crescent wrench to stop the shaft from turning. I replaced my stock shocks with Rancho adjustables and had the same problem. It maybe a slow process but it works. Also try jacking up that wheel to get some pressure up against that shock. Hopefully it will prevent the shaft from turning.
Yeah I was using the ratchet wrench for the nut and ran out of room to grip for the shaft. Well going against my teachings I used a pair of vise grips on the shaft surprising enough it didn't even scratch the shaft and I had it on as tight as I could get it. So it's off now if they would have included the bushings and nut for the one side I'd be done. Thanks.
I cheated but cutting a 1.5"-1 3/4" square hole in the bed directly on top of the shock nut to excess mine. I will eventually fabricate some kind of cover like the drain covers in the bed for it.
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I just had to reply. Last year I got some Bilstein HD shocks. Front ones went in no problem. Got to the rears and... Well, I said @#$%%%, I just cut a hole in the bed above both rears and used an air gun. Easy.
First off, have you removed the rear tire for easier access? Second, IIRC, the top has an opening to use an allen wrench. If so, it should help to remove the bolt. It's been a while since, I worked on the rear shocks.
When I recently swapped in a set of Bilstein HD'd, the top nuts of the rear were uncooperative: as they were to be trashed anyway, I reached in with a hacksaw and zipped them off ... far less agravation than fighting with two wrenches. BTW, if a top nut is almost off, and you run out of room to counterhold the top of the shaft ..... reach in for a fistfull of the steel dust cover: it is welded on, and can be held to keep the shaft from turning.
Re the front HD's - I had to compress the two mount rubbers in a vise to 'flatten' them a bit. Otherwise, I could not get the shaft nut to catch the first thread ..... that's with the lips of the bushings correctly centered, etc. If everyone else says they went in easily, perhaps I had a set of extra thick bushings ... for they fought all the way.
just use a crescent to secure the shaft, and you can just rotate the outer casing of the shock and it should loosen the nut and all that. worked for me.
help getting rear shocks off
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