Ok first off, I searched. No pics or videos that I could find. I found one thread with a member or his friend struggling to get a bolt out, but no real help.


I've tried everything I can think of, aside from heat. It's in a rubber bushing.

What have you guys done ? It's just the bottom bolt for the struts on both sides.

 

The easiest thing is to keep wiggling it back and fourth until you get it almost half way out then cut off the bolt and push it back through with a pin punch. The bolt has a shoulder on it and it will not let you pound it back through unless you cut it off. I pounded on the nut side then turned it back and fourth with a socket, then hit it some more then turned it, then fricken cussed a bunch and hit it some more. Use some penetrating oil to keep it lubed and it will take you a bit to do all this. Each bolt took me like 25min a piece to get it out far enough to get the shoulder to show and cut it off, then push it back out toward the front of the truck with a punch. Replace the bolts, easiest solution my buddy and I had. Both our trucks were a bitch to get these bolts out also, don't feel like your the only one. Now you know why they charge so much to install these for you... Good luck. don't forget to get a alignment after the install.. You will love these shocks, they are awesome.

 

Thanks ! So are the bolts splined ? Or should I be able to twist the bolt. It seems to just torque the rubber bushing.

 

a lot of rust builds up in the bushing and it is actually a steel insert inside the rubber bushing and it spins and don't allow the bolt to come out. Each time you pound on the bolt it will be very hard to turn from the other side but keep working it and it will slowly turn it's way out far enough to clear the shoulder and then you can cut it off and push it out toward the front of the the truck with a pin punch. You will need to get new bolts as mentioned above, I believe they are 100 or 110 mm long can not remember the thread and pitch though. I went to a local Fastenal to get the bolts. Thankfully my buddy was the first to put these on so my install went easier as we knew what to expect. The top nut on the shock is a bitch to get off to, so if you don't have the patience or tools (a good impact) I would suggest taking you ride in and have it done.