mycherokee

I thought I had PB Blaster'ed this thing enough but it didn't work. I was trying to replace the shocks because my Jeep has 350k miles and I can tell the shocks gotta be stock they are shot and all rusted up badly. So I tried to remove the bottom big nut and it broke off! So my shock is still attached but I wrapped wire around it so it wouldn't slide off of the bolt. There is no thread left to reattach a nut and from the way it looks, it looks like it is welded as one whole piece? Anyone experienced this? I have some easy out bits but I dont believe they would work in this case. I also attached a pic which shows a wire tie and some wire for double hold just to ensure it cant slip off of the bolt. I have a 1999 Cherokee XJ.



P.S. I tried to loosen the top shock nuts and they are gonna break as well (it seems at least). Any tips? I read the write up forum on how to remove them but didn't know if there was an easier way.

Jharris09

I had the same problem with the bottom bolt on my 99. I cut the metal peg off and drilled a 1/2" hole. I purchased a 1/2" bolt, washer and nut and put it all back together. It worked well, but it does take time to drill it out. The top bolts broke as well. I just followed the instructions on this forum. I knocked them out and put new bolts in. What a crappy job it was! Maybe there is an easier way? I'm not a mechanic by any means.

mycherokee

Ya I plan to just break my top bolts on both rear shocks and tap/fish new bolts seems to be pretty easy and effective. But the bottom bolts seem to be a bigger pain. The best part about the bottom is that its easier to get to, so you can drill them out and just use a couple wrenches to install the new bolt.

So you just cut the bolt off flush to the back of the bolt then drilled it out through the metal? I know that on the opposite side of the bolt it seems to be steel.

Anyone else had this similar problem?

Jharris09

Correct. It is very strong! It worked well, just was a pain.

jeepman25

Use a dorman Universal shock mount. You grind the rest of the bolt off, Drill it out then put it in there. Part # 31001

Ant.

The top bolts will for sure snap, Just remove the weld nuts and slap in new bolts and nuts, Real e-z to do...
The bottom bolt is for sure gonna be a pain, But very much fixable... I just went through the same **** with my 99 xj, But after all said and done, I am very pleased with the end result...

Good luck,

Ant...