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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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

 

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

 

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...