Best way to tighten rear shock top?

Greetings all! Just working on getting the new Toytec rear shocks installed....have the bottom bolts installed, just have a bit of an issue with the tops. I've got the nylon nut tightened to the point that no threads are showing, just the little flat piece at the top sticking through. Tried grabbing it with some vise grips but that didn't work...I'm to the point that as I try and tighten the top nut, the shock body just spins....anyone have any advice? I'm assuming that there should be a fair amount of threads showing, as there was when I took the factory TRD shock off.

@Toytec Lifts you guys have any advice?


Thanks in advance!

 

Use a small wrench to hold the top and another wrench to turn the nut. No need to overtighten. Hope that make sense.

 

Thanks, didn't even think to try a small wrench....I'll give it a shot! Based on your photo I have the nut higher than yours...no threads showing....

 

Can you grab the shock with your hand and hold it until you get the bolt tightened enough to get a wrench on the top?

 

I’ve gotten it as tight as it will go…any wrench just slips off the top and I don’t want to mess up the top. Seems tight to me but I’m not sure it isn’t just the nylon not getting past the thread

 

You need 2 wrenchs. One on the nut another on the square portion of the shaft up top

 

If a wrench slips off the flats on the shock top try a set of vise grips.

 

Hmm also check and make sure the rubber from the original shock isn't stuck to the bottom of the mount

 

I place a box end wrench over the post, then have a small pair of Vise-Grips that I clamp on to hold it from spinning. Just snug up to compress the bushing. I think the spec is something like 21 ft/lbs but I just eyeball the compression.

ETA: No that's not near tight enough. That bushing needs to compress but dont smash it.

 

I’ve tried the vice grips at the top…they just keep slipping and it’s so tight I can’t keep the shock body from rotating. I’ll see about getting an appointment to get them looked at

 

Both sides? And are the shocks all the way up inside the mounts?

 

Make sure the bushings are seated properly and use a box end 12 point on the top.

 

Yep shocks are seated as they should be. Just can’t get the nut threaded down past the nylok part of the nut for some reason on either side…probably just a lack of hand strength on my part...got an appointment at Midas tomorrow am….should be a 2 minute job for a professional.

 

Is the truck sitting on the ground? If the axle is hanging then its harder

 

Bump for similar question. Trying to remove old shock for a Bilstein 5160 install. I have lower bolt fully unseated and bottom is hanging free. I've been able to loosen top and have gotten this far in doing so but now can't get it off further without spinning the entire unit. I'm using a vice grip to hold the top, but as you can see I'm beginning to strip it because the nut is being so stubborn (I was careful not to clamp on the threading so as not to strip that). I used some PB rust blaster before starting the job but still stuck at this step.

Am I missing something?

 

Got it. For any future forum searchers:

Highly recommend grabbing at this position rather than at the top. At first, this part wasn't exposed as it was covered by the plastic shock cover. I applied some downward pressure to the plastic shock cover and it opened up to another section where I could use the vise grip. Also highly recommend that as you make some progress with the nut you backtrack and go left and right a couple of times to let the rust blaster seep into the threads and loosen everything up. Each time you make progress, backtrack a touch. Applying more spray as needed during the process.

 

Maybe one of these : https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/shock-absorber-sockets?SortBy=Default&SortOrder=Ascending&keyword=shock absorber socket&kr=shock absorber socket