Proper tool to use for holding shock rod in place for removing/installing shock nut?

Plan to do my shocks today.

Bought a socket to hold the shock rod in place for disassembly of old and assembly of new. It was from napa which doesn't fit since it was made for GMs.

Pic for those who don't know what I'm talking about. (It's the rear for example but I'm doing the fronts)


Here's what i got...


Will any of these work or is there a socket out there that fits?

 

I used my knipex pliers wrench. Which is a fancy adjustable wrench/pliers.

The crescent wrench and/or vice grips will also work.

There wasn't enough room for a socket iirc.

 

I've never seen a shock top like that before, or never paid enough attention. Guessing the shocks are for the front? Kinda looks like the top stud from real vague memory.

Rears were an Allen key on mine.

I see no reason why the adjustable wrench wouldn't work, or buy a cheap wrench set, and use a proper wrench with no adjustment. Personally, I hate the "slop" in cheap adjustable wrenches. I've rounded many a fastener that way...

 

Do yourself a favor and pick up some needle nose vise grips. That shock top is common on tacoma shocks and the vise grips is the best way.

 

I was thinking that but I only have the small size one of these.

 

Depending on how small it may just work. Maybe not though, depending on how corroded your current shocks are. I also recommend hitting the nuts with some PB blaster if they're rusty at all. That little nub is easy to round off so anything to reduce the load on it helps.

 

PB blaster and Heat! Really get that shizznit to suck on down in them threads.

 

What if just took an impact wrench to the shock nut without holding the shock rod in place after I compress the spring?

 

Mamba might just spin it right off if on speed 3. Or you'll have a flailing shock unless crunched in a vise

 

So you're swapping old springs to the new shock? Could compress, and then just cut the nut off with a Sawzall.

 

For removing the old ones just clamp a pair of vise grips on the shock shaft. Chances are if you try to just hold onto it you're just going to snap it off.

 

It'll break it free to some extent but at some point, it'll most likely just spin without holding the shock shaft.

 

It doesn't look too bad for disassembly. I'm not sure if I should just take an impact wrench to the shock nut and pray the rod does spin with it?

 

Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

 

Yeah, that'll definitely fight you a bit. I like the sawzall idea if you're just planning on tossing the shocks in the trash.

 

I've seen a lot worse. Hell, I own a lot worse right now....

Anyways, if the Sawzall doesn't get all of it off that you need. Take you a grinder, and grind the rest of the nut/shaft off. May need ER after your DIY orientation change. Wrong N/S combo. Gutter brain.

Anyways, yeah. If you're just trashing the old ones, doesn't matter how you take it off. I still like the proper sized wrench for installing the new one. Hard to slip if it's made for it, and there's no teeth to weaken/dig into the keyed shaft.

 

I've used a ratcheting box wrench and a crescent wrench to get that nut loose in situations like that.

 

I may be doing that for the rears, but I'd like to avoid it for the front if possible since I don't want to be playing around with it that much while the coil is compressed.

 

I cut the top studs off of @jpink's rear shocks. Need a 12" Diablo blade. Thick metal. Legit.

 

Napa had this but it doesn't fit tightly...

 

Maybe I should buy one as a backup to avoid having to bum a ride if I can't get it off.

 

For the front, attempt removing nut half turn or so while it is uncompressed. If threads are half way decent, at least you know it should come off when compressed.

 

I remember the rears being a pain and I think I did just about everything above. Hack saw in the end if I recall...

 

For the rears, I ground two flat spots on the shaft, and then used vise grips on the shhaft. Easy

 

Your profile pic is very sexy, Randy.

 

Thanks! That’s my tacoma, Betty white. I’m on this forum because I’ve got a tundra for a tow pig getting delivered on Monday.

 

You need a crow foot wrench to tighten the nut while you hold the shaft with either the vice grip or crescent wrench.

 

Thanks for the bigger pin-up pic of Betty. She’s beautiful. Keeping her, I assume.

 

Definitely, she’s not going anywhere. She’s always been a second vehicle for fun, but now I’m making my primary vehicle a tundra as well as a trailer to tow her around.