FeedVaal

Got a left wheel bearing assy to put on but have spent three days trying to get the old one apart. Finally got fed up and bought the biggest BFH at Harbor Freight and started wanging on the shock mount bolt. After 20 blows or so, the end was completely deformed and the 21st strike broke the ear off. There goes the core charge.

Anybody have any ideas about what it would take to prevent this frappin part from welding itself to the strut rod and fork in the likely event that it needs to come apart again in the future? :smash: :mad :mad

Big Fish

I know exactly where you are coming from on this. Try coating the new shock mount with anti-seize when you re-assemble. Soaking the old ones with a good penetrating oil like silicroil or aerocroil helps too. I was able to press mine out with a 2-jaw puller.

Larry B.

Van Steel sells a tool for that job.. It's a threaded cap that protects the threads. It actually bottoms out so the threads won't strip either. I have one if you want to borrow it.

PatsLs1vette

i put a little heat to the ears of the spindle and tap it with a brass hammer,usually comes right out.I also install the nut back on it a few threads so not to damage threads.I just did a 68 this weekend.

The Money Pit

Don't feel bad.I used the correct shock bolt remover tool,a 2 pound mallet and propane torch to remove mine. Took 8 hours on one side.The bolts came out but there's no way I was going to reuse them,so I baught new ones.

I also have the tool if you need one,but it looks like it's seen better days. :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash:

FeedVaal

I bought the tool for next go around but I don't think it would have helped in this case. A 20 ton press might have accomplished it but I not quite ready for that investment. I'm going to use a boatload of anti-seize on this puppy on reassembly and pray that a two jaw puller is the answer next time.

NHvette

This issue is very much like that of the trailing arm bolts.
The lower shock mount can rust and fuse itself to the inner sleeve on the
bottom of the shock. I beat on mine years back - then decided to get smart
before I broke something. I took my air powered cutoff wheel and cut through
the bottom of the shock - then ground on the inner sleeve until I could get a
screwdriver in there to break it loose from the mount.

How did I learn this ? After smashing the hell out of one of the original
shock mounts. After destroying it, it was still stuck - but it became obvious
that the shock was holding it up - not the bracket.

I have just revisited this. I removed the entire '75 rear suspension last Sunday
afternoon, after installing it about 4 years back. Both shock mounts came
right out with a small hammer and using the castle nut as a knock-off tool.

"Cut it out" :D

Oh yeah - antiseize for sure.

:seeya


[Modified by NHvette, 5:43 PM 8/27/2003]