Hi
I have an 03 Durango & I was trying to get some tips on removing my front shocks. I'm trying to remove the top nut, but the shaft keeps turning. I know I need to use vice-grips on the shaft, but I can't get to the top of the shock from underneath the truck, & I can't get the vice-grips, & ratchet at the same time thru the engine compartment to remove it from the top.

I don't have access to an impact wrench. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

Monkey wrench!

 

sounds like you are trying to do this with the wheels on im guessing. If you jack it up and take the wheels off, it is a piece of cake.

 

yea i would take the wheels off, and then there is a square top on the shaft, above the nut, put the vice grips on that, and a box wrench on the nut, then get a giant piece of pipe and pull as hard as you can on it (pipe goes on the box wrench)

 

if its the old one just take a hack saw to the nut.. or a dremel

 

Thanks for the tips guys.

I took the wheels off originally, but the upper arm is covering up the top shock shaft & nut (I can't visually see the shock shaft/top nut with the wheel removed because the control arm is blocking it).

To get to the nut from the side of the truck, I have to snake a wrench underneath the control arm & around the nut (I can't put a pipe on it because the wrench is angling down toward me, it would interfere with the bottom of the upper arm). I can't get vice-grips over & down thru the top of the arm with the wheel off, only thru the engine compartment.

If the control arm wasn't there, it looks like it'd be pretty easy to do.

Thanks again.

 

try vice grips on the shock shaft, (of the old ones only) and a deep well impact socket then . . .

 

When I tried to remove these nuts I placed a Monkey-wrench on the square top and it just twisted and broke so if you are not reusing the shocks, then take a sawzall with a metal blade 18 TPI or better and cut the nuts off. Hacksaw is to much work IMHO and the sawzall will zip right through the harden rod. You will burn and chew up the rubber isolater and smell rubber but thats okay, you should get new isolaters with the new shocks.

I am not sure why but a week after the install the driver's side lower shock bolt broke and I had to replace it.
Seems that others had experienced this to so to save ya some legwork, the bolt size is M12x1.75x75.00.

You are gonna love the D with new shocks!! Good Luck

 

I had a friend help me on the fronts. It was easy but I need 3 hands

 

I took some finagling with the upper nut but I do remember removing the shocks all four corners without special tools or problems, I didnt have to take the wheels off but I do seem to remember having to take the front tires off for more room. One at a time of course since I only had the hydraulic jack at the time. IIRC it took me about 1 hour for all four corners.