What mm is the top bolt for the rear shock? - Any tips for removing it?

As I'm changing the rear springs soon, I'm going to change the shock too. When I attempted this last time I could not get any grip on the very small top stock bolt. Its something like 4mm?

I put an adjustable on it, but it always slipped off  :(

I had the same problem.

In the end what worked for me was to grip the top washer with a pair of curved jaw mole grips. I guess the washer was stuck/rusted to the shocker.

Edit top nut is 6 mm, well it is on my s/l shocks

Easier inside the car with seats down

some plonker put an LPG tank in my boot  ::)

I put mole grips on it too last time, again slipped off. If its 6mm I'll hunt around for a spanner that size  :)

Iirc.... :-/

Had similar issue on TB's car, so used mole grips on the plastic gater to hold the shaft still from the wheel arch, while an assistant used an air ratchet on the bigger top securing nut(nyloc jobby is it?) from inside the boot. It buggered the gater, but if your fitting new shocks who cares. :)

Maybe nip round to The Groomer for some.... "assistance"  ;)

Cheap adjustable spanners seem to be designed to fail. Only useful as paperweights in my experience.

I have a Bahco adjustable spanner which had no problem holding the top mount on the last 3 occasions I changed VX rear shock absorbers :y

Thanks Chaps  :y

Not looking forward to that "Payment Stage" by The Groomer  ;D

tunnie wrote on 16. Aug 2011 at 20:08:

Thanks Chaps  :y Not looking forward to that "Payment Stage" by The Groomer  ;D

Oi, my name isn't Geoff....

TheBoy wrote on 16. Aug 2011 at 20:17:

tunnie wrote on 16. Aug 2011 at 20:08: Thanks Chaps  :y Not looking forward to that "Payment Stage" by The Groomer  ;D Oi, my name isn't Geoff....

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D PMSL :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Lazydocker wrote on 16. Aug 2011 at 21:04:

TheBoy wrote on 16. Aug 2011 at 20:17: tunnie wrote on 16. Aug 2011 at 20:08: Thanks Chaps  :y Not looking forward to that "Payment Stage" by The Groomer  ;D Oi, my name isn't Geoff.... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D PMSL :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Geofreeeeey..... :-*
;D

Such children!

chrisgixer wrote on 16. Aug 2011 at 18:18:

Iirc.... :-/ Had similar issue on TB's car, so used mole grips on the plastic gater to hold the shaft still from the wheel arch, while an assistant used an air ratchet on the bigger top securing nut(nyloc jobby is it?) from inside the boot. It buggered the gater, but if your fitting new shocks who cares. :) Maybe nip round to The Groomer for some.... "assistance"  ;)

Oh dear ....I see. :-X

The nut is no problem, you have to hold the rod which has two flats. Last time I struggled, I unbolted my vice from the bench & used that in a "death grip", that showed it who was boss. (Actually the rod snapped, so wouldn't have come undone anyway).  Good job I was renewing the shock.

I now have the same problem with my car.Just went to undo my o/s shock and someone has been there before me, the top part which had 2 flats is all chewed up. Tried mole grips on the gaiter and on the damping rod itself but the rod still turns when I turn the spanner on the top.Im at work, so tools are a bit limited, will probably leave it until tomorrow - at home in daylight, but having said that Im still not sure what I can do there, apart from having several different shapes/sizes of mole grips. One of which might just hold the rod better. :-/ :(

Albs wrote on 04. Sep 2011 at 10:17:

I now have the same problem with my car.Just went to undo my o/s shock and someone has been there before me, the top part which had 2 flats is all chewed up. Tried mole grips on the gaiter and on the damping rod itself but the rod still turns when I turn the spanner on the top.Im at work, so tools are a bit limited, will probably leave it until tomorrow - at home in daylight, but having said that Im still not sure what I can do there, apart from having several different shapes/sizes of mole grips. One of which might just hold the rod better. :-/ :(

As you`re replacing them use a 4" grinder :y

I presume you mean to cut the nut off the top ?
I may have to, but Im ot that keen on all those sparks flying around the LPG tank. A hell of a way to find out you have a leak. :o ;D

Albs wrote on 04. Sep 2011 at 12:10:

I presume you mean to cut the nut off the top ? I may have to, but Im ot that keen on all those sparks flying around the LPG tank. A hell of a way to find out you have a leak. :o ;D

Hacksaw then ;D

???? just put the big windy gun in there on full power and it whizzes them off without having to hold the top of the strut!!! easy!! :y

I dont have a windy gun though. ;)

RobG wrote on 04. Sep 2011 at 20:11:

Albs wrote on 04. Sep 2011 at 12:10: I presume you mean to cut the nut off the top ? I may have to, but Im ot that keen on all those sparks flying around the LPG tank. A hell of a way to find out you have a leak. :o ;D Hacksaw then ;D

Do they still make them ? Havent seen one for years.Thought they were obselete now. :D ;D

Well the shocks were changed last week, last ones were totally errr "used"

Thanks to the local fat man they were removed, a flat spot was made on the shock itself (first removing plastic gater) only tool to hand was a Dremel, did it ok though, big grips on the shock itself on the flat spot, while releasing the top nut. (which is 6mm)

Access was limited thanks to an LPG tank being in the way, really need to invest in a decent set of ratchet spanners!

Thanks to TB for giving up his time to get those sorted.

I managed to do the springs on my own!  :o

Finished doing mine today.Large damp cloth sheet wrapped around the LPG bits to prevent stray sparks from blowing up me/the car/the village, ;D.......angle grinder used to cut the top nut off the shock.
Now got a new steering idler fitted,a pair of rear springs which both have the same number of coils and a pair of Bilstein B4,s on the rear.The car feels a hell of a lot better. I still think the front is slightly vague, but if its anything serious the MOT man will pick up on it tomorrow morning. :)