Removing Disco front shocks

[Davidh]

Hi all,

Anyone got any good suggestions on holding the shock to remove the lower nut?
My shocks haven't been touched for at least 3-4 years and I'm having a bitch of a time trying to hold the shock while breaking the nut loose!
It's an OME N45F btw.
I've tried a 12" shifter locked into the lower grooves but it's pretty hard to hold!

[GRIMACE]

well most shock have the little groove at the end of the thread that a 6-8 inch spanner fits and then you turn the nut.....

IT CAN BE A PAIN IN THE ARSE THOU and the last pair of front shock I removed GOT THE GRINDER

Persistance and skinned nuckle is usualy how i have done it

[DFND90]

I could not get my rear shocks off for that reason and the flat section on the pin is now rounded

I think mine are an angle grinder job also. Even holding the shock with a pipe wrench didnt work

[GRIMACE]

put a very small tack weld on the bottom of the shock to the mount

Then try

when i say small I mean small..... not to much heat

[RaginRover]

get a big ass set of multi grips and hold the shock body throught the srpings

[Davidh]

Thanks guys! I reckon I'll grab a set of big multigrips and give it another go. I've also thought of trying an oil filter removal tool. I've got one of those ones where the handle pivots and grabs harder as you turn.
Might be too big for the shocker though.
I don't want to grind, they're perfectly good shocks!

[bazzle]

I use water pump pliers thru the spring gaps.
For rear the same on shock body at bottom.

Bazzle

[Rovernaut]

Ditto, big multigrips.
I didn't piss fart around getting the nuts off to undo the shock tower either, the shock ends just twist. Got the Big angle grinder out and cut the suckers off.
Quick job!

[carmino]

This method always works for me.
See which way the shock is spinning when you try to undo it. Then tie a rope tightly to the shock then wind it onto the shock in the opposite direction at least 10 turns then tie the rope off to studs or chassie, anything solid. Then as you undo the shock it will tighten on the rope till it locks and then the nut will undo.

[RaginRover]

This method always works for me.
See which way the shock is spinning when you try to undo it. Then tie a rope tightly to the shock then wind it onto the shock in the opposite direction at least 10 turns then tie the rope off to studs or chassie, anything solid. Then as you undo the shock it will tighten on the rope till it locks and then the nut will undo.

Nice one I will have to remember that next time I am stuck somewhere and need some mechanical advantage over something

Tom

[ISUZUROVER]

Carmino's method sound good, but I have always had success with a good quality pipe wrench - the kind that has a bar with teeth on the end and a shain that wraps around the pipe. Just try and grip the shock close to the welded seam though so you don`t crush the tube and bugger the shock.

[Aquarangie]

Well, in true Aquarangie fashion, lots of swearing and beer drinking helps here!!!

No seriously Carminos methgod seems the most logical and easy way to go. I have always used vice grips tightend as far as they can go, wedged them against the swivel housing and this seems to work.

But Carmionos method I'll try next time.

Trav

[Davidh]

Well thanks for the tips guys! I ended up buying a $17 pair of 14" locking pliers from Supercheap, and held the shock around the serrated area at the bottom of the shock. Perfect! The nut came off straight away!
I did put some WD40 on the nuts before starting, could have helped!
Just shows, right tools for the job make it so much easier!