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Installing shocks?
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my03yellowv
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:09 pm    Post subject: Installing shocks? Reply with quote

ok I just bought a new set of front & rear Shocks for my stock 55 bug.. I know it is just a lower and upper bolt holding these in but can anyone tell me what the proper way is to install them....should I have the car up in the air on Jask stands or could I change them with the car sitting on the ground without any trouble? the reason I ask is my floor jack has a leak and I dont think I am gonna get the car off the ground...thanks guys .
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Splitdog
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Right where she sits.
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drscope
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can't fix your little bitty jack, but you want to fix that great big car?

Sounds like you need to start with the little jobs and get the jack fixed!

And when you do, let me know how to make mine stop leaking!
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my03yellowv
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

the pit cock screw made out of plastic broke on the Jack so until I get a new jack or get that fixed the car is not going up in the air......and if you have a wife spending money on things like this doesn't come easy ya know what I mean. Rolling Eyes
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KantDriveFast
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You don't need no stinking jack!

Just turn the wheel out of the way and go at it.

Make sure to PB the piss out of the top bolt. If it breaks off, your afternoon will take a sharp turn for the worse. Crying or Very sad
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my03yellowv
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Make sure I PB the Top bolt what does that mean??? is this bolt notrorious for breaking????
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KantDriveFast
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

my03yellowv wrote:
Make sure I PB the Top bolt what does that mean??? is this bolt notrorious for breaking????


Its not a traditional bolt/nut combo. The shock bolt is threaded into the beam itself, and the bolt tapers down a size or two, so the threads are at the weakest point of the bolt.

So if its original, or been in there a while, and you wrench on it like you would a normal shock bolt, you will break it off in the beam. It gets worse...

The "special" shock bolt is only available at Wolfsburg west (not cheap either)and the like...no hardware store will have them. Also the beam is so close to the inner fenderwell, you cant just drill out the beam and run a normal nut/bolt through it...it will hit the body.

Just a heads up. Good Luck! Laughing
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my03yellowv
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well that gives me great confidence LOL ..... I wonder if I would be better using an air gun or a ratchet?
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KantDriveFast
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, if you are going at it without a jack...access will be limited. Might try a box end wrench at first...let the PB soak a while.
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my03yellowv
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ok, one last question there is some metal lock type thing on the shock bolts are you suppose to bend those two fork like pieces back or slip the socket or wrench over that hole shindig...as i cant get a great fit over them.
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bend those outta the way. It's an OG nut-locking device.
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billmetric
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just a suggestion but are the shocks bad? or are you just changing them because you have new ones? I have a bunch of cars with old shocks on them, the ones on my '55 are like 30 years old and my '52 still has the original ones on it, still working with 200K miles on it, old shocks are way better than no shocks at all, if yours still have the lock plates on them they may be factory, a lot of lazy mechanics left those locks off when changing them, on my cars I am going to wait till I have the body off or just take off the whole front axle when I do mine, personally I dont even put a wrench on old bolts like those unless the whole area is orange hot with oxy-acetylene torch, that means I usually have to heat up the back of the frame head, take out the axle bolts, drop the axle, heat up the shock bolts, they come right out and no extra time drilling out the broken bolts which is no fun at all, however the upper shock bolt hole can be drilled out to the larger size of the main part of the bolt and a standard bolt can be used, just a suggestion, best leave sleeping dogs lie and cans of worms sealed

* note that this is East Coast PA/Ohio salty rust belt talk, if this is a California car they will probably come out with your fingers Evil or Very Mad
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'55oval
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

put never sez on the top bolt threads before re-installing.
Steveo sjvwc.net
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was all set to do the shocks on mine but now I'm strongly reconsidering.
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my03yellowv
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

yes its a california car...the shocks are bad and need to be replaced but I know what you mean about touching bolts like these evrything I seem to touch snaps or breaks.... is it ok to leave the Lock covers off the Shocks and just use the Bolts.....I find it hard to believe that they would come loose?
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my03yellowv
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Anyone is it ok to leave the lock plates off the shock bolts I am going to try and tackle these today and what to know if its safe to just use the bolt without that lock bracket piece on top and bottom.
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'55oval
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
my03yellowv Posted: Today 11:05 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone is it ok to leave the lock plates off the shock bolts I am going to try and tackle these today and what to know if its safe to just use the bolt without that lock bracket piece on top and bottom.


They were put on there for a reason, why not use them??
Steveo sjvwc.net
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my03yellowv
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well Got all the shocks on and even put the locking brackets back on hope I never have to deal with them again I hate those little suckers!
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russ c
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 3:30 pm    Post subject: Re: Installing shocks? Reply with quote

well I broke the top shock bolt today any new ideas?
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TheLadyBug
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 6:04 am    Post subject: Re: Installing shocks? Reply with quote

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Take the beam out and carefully drill out the broken bolt without wrecking the threads in the beam. Heat it up.

This is how I got my shock bolts out. Were not coming out until they were glowing. I have an extra pair of shock bolts from WW that I used until I was able to find some OE ones, as I ended up having to pound them out of the shock and wrecked the threads on one of my originals. The bolts aren't expensive at $9 each (only need 2) but the lock plates are at $15 each when you need 4.

You can buy the new lock plates from Stoddard.

http://www.stoddard.com/64434358100.html

New shock bolts at WW.

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=111413401A

Nicely reassembled.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.



I was told by a wise fellow that the front end needs to be assembled carefully. If a bolt comes loose in the front, you crash.
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