stuck bottom shock bolt

simplemind7 · 06-04-2006

i'm in the process of taking my front spring and shocks out of my GT and i was making good progress until i went to take out the passenger side shock and the bottom bolt is seized to the rubber bushing in the shock. i got the nut off but when i try to turn the bolt it turns the rubber bushing with it, i tried putting the nut back on the end and beating it with a hammer until my arms barely worked anymore and it wouldn't release the rubber. then i let it soak in WD-40 for a while and beat on it some more, still stuck in there.

anyone have any ideas?

namba209 · 06-04-2006

You're gonna get new rubber bushings with a new shock, so go ahead and cut out the old rubber bushings. A couple of ways to do it, you could burn it out, but that's smelly and messy, not mentioning having the fire. Drill several small holes around the bushing to see if that will free it up some. Or my favorite, a Dremel rotary saw drill bit. It looks like a very coarse drill bit, but with cutting edges on the flutes. It went through the firewall sheetmetal on Willit? quite rapidly. HTH.

simplemind7 · 06-04-2006

i don't think i'll be able to drill it out because its still in the shock mount since i can't move the bolt. i'm not sure if the shock if factory or not, but i have a feeling it is since the car was only on the road for about 10 years then put in storage, but would it have a metal tube inside the rubber bushing?

Mach1Tom · 06-04-2006

Yes, the shock does have a sleeve in the rubber that the bolt passes through.

The easiest thing now to do if the penetrating oil doesn't work, is cut or grind the head of the bolt off & also any visible threads on the other side. Then pry the "ears" away so the shock comes out.

You can then just get a new bolt & bushing if the shock is to be reused or just another bolt if a new shock is put back on.

~ Tom C.

06-04-2006	#1 (permalink)
simplemind7 Opel GT? Who makes that? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ayr, Ontario, Canada Posts: 632	Unanswered: stuck bottom shock bolt i'm in the process of taking my front spring and shocks out of my GT and i was making good progress until i went to take out the passenger side shock and the bottom bolt is seized to the rubber bushing in the shock. i got the nut off but when i try to turn the bolt it turns the rubber bushing with it, i tried putting the nut back on the end and beating it with a hammer until my arms barely worked anymore and it wouldn't release the rubber. then i let it soak in WD-40 for a while and beat on it some more, still stuck in there. anyone have any ideas? __________________ Brendan: 72 Manta Rallye 69 GT 72 GT - parts car

06-04-2006	#2 (permalink)
namba209 6,000 Post Club Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Imperial Beach, CA South of San Diego Posts: 6,054 Provided Answers: 6	You're gonna get new rubber bushings with a new shock, so go ahead and cut out the old rubber bushings. A couple of ways to do it, you could burn it out, but that's smelly and messy, not mentioning having the fire. Drill several small holes around the bushing to see if that will free it up some. Or my favorite, a Dremel rotary saw drill bit. It looks like a very coarse drill bit, but with cutting edges on the flutes. It went through the firewall sheetmetal on Willit? quite rapidly. HTH. __________________ Ron 72 GT 3.4L V-6/T-5/ZF posi - almost done - Just need AC installed. 75 Chevy monza 5.7L/TH350/Auburn 3.08 posi - Next

06-04-2006	#3 (permalink)
simplemind7 Opel GT? Who makes that? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ayr, Ontario, Canada Posts: 632	i don't think i'll be able to drill it out because its still in the shock mount since i can't move the bolt. i'm not sure if the shock if factory or not, but i have a feeling it is since the car was only on the road for about 10 years then put in storage, but would it have a metal tube inside the rubber bushing? __________________ Brendan: 72 Manta Rallye 69 GT 72 GT - parts car

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-04-2006	#4 (permalink)
Mach1Tom Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 386	Yes, the shock does have a sleeve in the rubber that the bolt passes through. The easiest thing now to do if the penetrating oil doesn't work, is cut or grind the head of the bolt off & also any visible threads on the other side. Then pry the "ears" away so the shock comes out. You can then just get a new bolt & bushing if the shock is to be reused or just another bolt if a new shock is put back on. ~ Tom C.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)