Shockingly difficult spacers

I’ve taken them off about 10 shocks without problems. They just slide off easily so yours must be corroded. Try some penetrating oil on them.

Mike

Thanks Mike. I've got them soaking in WD-40 right now. I might pick up something stronger though. Is there sufficient play/clearance between the spacer and shock, such that when I finally get it loose it should slide out the rest of the way?

You need a 5 or 6 inch gear seperator and a hydrqulic press.
The rings are going to have debris and also have corrosion from galvanic action.

Don't listen to this, your's must be the only one that is corroded BS. They all are except possibly the ones that are owned by the special people.

These things are cast aluminum and were press fit on the shock new.
WD40 will help but without the gear seperator you might be stuck on them forever.

You can rent a seperator at a NAPA store. You don't even need to buy one but frankly I don't know how to finish the job without a press.

Doug is right (Oooh That hurt to say ), mine were corroded on and had 30 years of mud caked behind them.

The key was getting them started enough to be able to break the corrosive bond and then clear all the crap out. They are a pretty tight fit anyway so additional paint on the shock may worsen taking them off. I used lots of heat to swell the Al a little and a narrow wedge to pry them up from the lower seat.

Thanks guys. Looks like this project just got bigger. I'll keep you posted.

-William

quote:

Originally posted by Joules5:
Doug is right (Oooh That hurt to say ), mine were corroded on and had 30 years of mud caked behind them.

I had to take a small cut off wheel and carefully cut into the spacers then pry them open to get them to slid off.
There were corroded on there really bad.
Tom

Boy...I guess I got lucky! My car has lived in Kalifornia all its life, and when I removed the spacers on all four shocks it took about 15 min. total.

So here's how it went down:

It lasted about 6 hours, it took chisels, presses, cutting tools, torches, plasma cutters, hydrochloric acid, and finally TNT.

Then I woke up and realized it was just a bad dream.

I decided to take the shock to a friend who owns a performance shop, and using a pneumatic hammer, he removed it in less than 3 seconds.

Bada-Boom Bada-Bing, Bada-Bing Bada-BANG!

For those non-Kali folks, here is what it looks like, not pretty. The aluminum corrodes and decomposes into powder where the two metals meet. I used a chisel and hammer to remove the 1/16" of compacted powder on the shock.

Cheers!

Sorry about the bad pictures, all I had was a camera phone at the time.

Shock

Some sanding, wire brush and cleaner, then some paint and good as new!

In NY it would be bada-boom, bada-bing!

Those Kali guys have it good. No water, no dirt.

And most of all, NO SALT!