Rear shock bolt - How to fix PO mistake question (pics)
 

So this is what I have to deal with when the time comes to replace my rear shocks. I would like some opinions on how to go about fixing this.

The oem bolts are long gone, in their place are some new ones welded in place. Common fix, yes, but now these bolts are rusted and Im afraid will break once I try and loosen them up.

Should I just break them off, remove shocks, cut off old bolts and attempt to weld to what metal remains?

I would like to use a BPE to prevent this in the future. I saw a BPE in a distinct style that I think would be beneficial in my situation but cant find the website. It looked like a single metal plate bent and drilled to replace the bar pin. It was bent around to be three sided and a flat surface for mounting to the shock mount. Anyone ever seen this?

Pics...

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...rearshcok3.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...rearshock1.jpg

if you want to try to keep and resuse the bolts he welded in i would recomend soaking down the existing bolts with PB blaster or liquid wrench 2-3 times a day for 3 days and try carefully to losen them if you feel it is going to brake stop and use a nut splitter and remove the nuts with that. then run a die over the studs before you put the new nuts on them. and when you secure the shock coat the studs with anti-size compound.

Have you removed your rear swaybar? The linkages on both sides work great as BPEs. If you're worried about breaking something in the process of removal I would not trust them to hold over time, you might rip those out and start anew with with something you're not concerned would break. In either case, PB Blast the heck out of those and they should come off... I've seen far worse than the condition those are in and generous use of PB can go a long way.

I should buy some stock in PB Blasters parent company, lol.

Thanks guys. I will try the nut splitter and running the die over them. Im going to pick up a set of BPE and use them as well, no rear sway bar for me.

Forgot about this one... I love rust.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ar/ebrake1.jpg