Hi guys,

I'm swapping out the 30 year old suspension on my mk2 for a new set. The only problem is - they have been there for 30 years. And therefore EVERYTHING is stuck. :(

I've undone the top mount of the rear struts no problem. But the bottom bolt that passes through the strut into the rear beam is stuck fast. The nut has undone on the inside of the beam, but the bolt is just turning the rubber bushing inside the shock absorber and not coming out from the beam at all.

I've tried everything. Air gun to shock it out, heating it with a blowtorch, getting a bar in to lever it out... Nothing works :( And i've even done the "hard part" of getting the nut off!

Does anyone have any suggestions of how to get this damn shock off the car?!!

Andrew.

So the nut is off and out? Has the bolt come out at all? If it's come out a bit you could maybe use a ball joint separator on it, otherwise I think you might have to try and hacksaw through the bush and bolt. I assume its rusted itself to the metal insert inside the bush, so you'd have to do both sides of the shock absorber. Otherwise, how about a chisel inside the trailling arm? or something else to push on the bolt from the base of it.

Sounds like the bolt has seized to the metal collar of the bush - best way forward is to take the angel grinder to it. Cut the bot leaving enough to remove whats left of it from the car and replace with a new bolt - and bush if the new shocks don't have them included (I am not familiar with the shock setup)

When the new bolt goes in, lube the shank of it with copper slip or similar so that it doesn't seize in the future

hacksawed mine down the sides

hacksawed mine down the sides

This is what I did, you need to take the blade off and put it through the axle to get the outer bits cut

Thanks for the advice everyone.

It looks like hacksaw is the way forward. It hasn't moved outwards a single bit - definitely rusted to the metal inside the bush so there's no way I could get a balljoint puller or clamp of any sort on it. I'll have one more go with the plusgas, then it's saw time.

Edited 21 January, 201313 yr by andrew_baran

new bolts are10.9 - not normal 8.8

I wouldn't waste your plusgas tbh, just get at it with the saw. This has happened on every mk2 I've owned. I usually just cut the bracket of the beam and replace/scrap the beam. I did manage to melt one out mind. I had to keep that beam mind. I once tried pushing the bolt out with a 7 ton press. It pushed the bush out instead!

Can't you lever it out with a big lever bar by putting it inside the beam where the nut goes? doesnt matter if you fock the thread as you'll be replacing them anyway?

I'll say no, at least if it's anyting like the experiences I've had. It will have practically welded itself to the bush!

yeah mine wouldve never pushed out ...new hacksaw blade and 20 mins or less and its out , not really too bad

Old thread I know, just had to do the hacksaw job aswell! 

Well wasn't needed after all, there was bungs on the ends of the trailing arms!

Was painted and looked metal with the shock nut being captive inside. 

Oh well, nothing damaged aside from the bolts. 

Anyone know the size of the lower shock bolts?

 

861 513 471

hexagon bolt

M10X82