Broken upper rear shock bolts?! Oh my! Easy fix with no cutting.
11-07-2011, 08:54 PM
#1
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Broken upper rear shock bolts?! Oh my! Easy fix with no cutting.
My friend Marshmallow has been a good car. He's taken me and my friends on several urban safaris and even on tons of Florida trails in search of hogs.
His tired, old suspension was starting to bottom out on every rut, so I installed a full OME kit with HD springs in the rear and the coils up front. I also added the 10mm OME front coil spacer was necessary to give Marshmallow his factory stance, albeit a few inches taller.
Naturally, the upper shock mounts broke. I know this trick has probably been discussed here a million times, but I want to share it anyways.
OH DEAR!:
I tried to hammer out the nuts behind with a hammer and a punch, but I was just kidding myself. I went to Home Depot and spent the $30 for an air hammer, and punched them out. They came out easily!
Since there's an access point right next to the bolt holes, it seemed silly to cut the body. So I just taped a nut and washer to a wrench:
Then slid the wrench into the access hole, there's plenty of room:
With very little time and almost zero effort, you get this!:
His tired, old suspension was starting to bottom out on every rut, so I installed a full OME kit with HD springs in the rear and the coils up front. I also added the 10mm OME front coil spacer was necessary to give Marshmallow his factory stance, albeit a few inches taller.
Naturally, the upper shock mounts broke. I know this trick has probably been discussed here a million times, but I want to share it anyways.
OH DEAR!:
I tried to hammer out the nuts behind with a hammer and a punch, but I was just kidding myself. I went to Home Depot and spent the $30 for an air hammer, and punched them out. They came out easily!
Since there's an access point right next to the bolt holes, it seemed silly to cut the body. So I just taped a nut and washer to a wrench:
Then slid the wrench into the access hole, there's plenty of room:
With very little time and almost zero effort, you get this!:
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Boboso95 (11-23-2020)
11-07-2011, 11:06 PM
#4
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Year: 1991
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Engine: I-6 4.0 HO
This should be a write up. So simple compared to lifting the carpet and cutting. Thank you. I will be doing my suspension soon, and I imagine the 200k+ mile bolts will break.
11-08-2011, 09:14 AM
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Year: 1992
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Definitely needs to be in the write ups! Ive been procrastinating on doing my rear shocks cuz ot the bolts being so old. Now ive got a back up plan 
11-08-2011, 09:43 AM
#6
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I also used grade-8 5/16" x 1" bolts from home depot. It really is quite easy. Marshmallow is a rust free Florida car and every other bolt came out with zero problems (even with 200k miles) but those upper rear shock bolts snapped off instantly.
Despite its age, the paint and interior are in fantastic shape. It bothered me to think I had to cut the floor.
Despite its age, the paint and interior are in fantastic shape. It bothered me to think I had to cut the floor.
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12-28-2011, 10:00 PM
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I've done that repair many times!
I now use a telescoping magnet and drop the bolts down from the top with the nuts on the shock side. It's easier to boltup and replace in the future.
Good Post!!
I now use a telescoping magnet and drop the bolts down from the top with the nuts on the shock side. It's easier to boltup and replace in the future.
Good Post!!
09-11-2012, 08:58 AM
#14
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Just to say thanks for posting a "How to do" without that unnecessary cutting of the cargo area. Took mine in today, and the guy done what I asked re air hammer, and he used welding wire to tie on bolt, then threaded through holes. Done all 4 as 3 had snapped off when changing leaf springs.
Good on yah. Thanks Les
Good on yah. Thanks Les
12-30-2013, 03:53 PM
#15
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Year: 2000
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It's official. I'm going to name my second born male son CETME after you. I dropped my jeep at a repair place to remove the front leaf spring eye bolt that was stuck and asked him (I don't know why) to pull off my old shocks since I had new ones to install and he "Broke" or cut them from the looks of it. I was kinda dreading having to cut into the back floor board to reach them.
F YEAH I will be doing this tomorrow.
F YEAH I will be doing this tomorrow.