little people

505 Views 12 Replies 6 Participants Last post by jetmk2, Jul 3, 2003

jetmk2

Discussion Starter · Jul 3, 2003

man how in the hell do you people that are my size(5'7",130lbs.) get the damn vise grips tight enough on the shaft of the shock?no matter what i did i couldn't get it tight enough to loosen the second bolt on the top of the shock.any one do anything differently?

thanks.

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SimonH

· #2 · Jul 3, 2003

Re: little people (jetmk2)

"Second bolt on top of the shock"????? Can't quite figure out what you are referring to. Shock housing?

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ewongkaizen

· #3 · Jul 3, 2003

Re: little people (jetmk2)

impact wrench?
Even those icky elec ones work OK for that....
(5'6" sticks fer arms)

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jetmk2

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 3, 2003

Re: little people (jetmk2)

inside the trunk after you take off the top bolt of the top of the shock that's sits in the little dish.there appears a second bolt which you need to lock vise grips on the shaft of the shock in the wheel well to keep it from moving while you loosen it.i can't get the vise grips tight enough so i can take off that second bolt.

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jetmk2

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 3, 2003

Re: little people (jetmk2)

i do not have an impact wrench.

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blown_sixdub

· #6 · Jul 3, 2003

Re: little people (jetmk2)

use an offset 17mm box wrench and lock your pliers to the top of the shaft inside the car (the shaft should have a flat section at the top), no need to try to hold both.
I hope you are not planning on reusing the shocks after grabbing the shaft with pliers.

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SimonH

· #7 · Jul 3, 2003

Re: little people (jetmk2)

You mean second "nut" not bolt. Sounds like the nut was too tight to begin with. Are you using an old pair of worn-tooth vise grips? If you are not going to re-use the shock, just turn on the ratchet. Sometimes a quick snap of the ratchet will do it - something like a manual impact wrench. Larger vise grips?? Pipe wrench?

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brandon002

· #8 · Jul 3, 2003

spray it with pb blaster and then use vice grips on the flat section on top of the shaft. That is if you don't have an impact.

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ewongkaizen

· #9 · Jul 3, 2003

Re: little people (jetmk2)

oh - the REAR..
I dont recall using vise grips.
I recall either a schley tool OR more likely an open end wrench that FIT the "flats" on the shaft...
Hopefully ya didnt bung it up too much....
BTW _ did ya REMOVE the side shelf thinges - it much easier to do then

(or is it a jetta?)

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Misfit

· #10 · Jul 3, 2003

Re: little people (ewongkaizen)

hey im 6'0 and 130 and i got no problems. i just holler for someone stronger

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jetmk2

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 3, 2003

Re: little people (jetmk2)

i typed bolt on accident.it's a jetta also.so on the back i don't need vise grips?i'm not using these shocks or springs over again.i'm installing tokico hp shocks and new h&r race springs.

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ewongkaizen

· #12 · Jul 3, 2003

Re: little people (jetmk2)

if yer not re-using em - sawzall

(sorry - couldnt resist)

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jetmk2

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 3, 2003

Re: little people (jetmk2)

i finished the rear today in about 2 and a 1/2 hours.this was my second time doing it,first was me and a buddy.last time took us 5 hrs. to do the rear lol.i didn't even need vise grips after all.i just unbolted the bottom bolt going through the rear beam,then the nuts inside the car were a piece of cake.thanks everyone for your help.now the rears seem pretty damn easy to do.my car rides so much better in the rear with new h&r race and new tokicos shocks.stiff as hell.on to the fronts in a few days.

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