Lower shock bolt pitch and length?

[kirkvw72]

What is the length and pitch of the lower shock bolt. I just spent 1.5 hours to no avail trying all methods to get it out. All new shocks, brakes, lines, Weitec springs....last wheel of course, and I can't get the bolt out.

Mine is stuck, and will be destroyed by the time it comes out.
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2015 VW GTi Autobahn
2000 Mercedes Benz E430
1992 Miata, automatic converted to a 5-speed
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1987 Porsche 944 (951) Turbo
1987 Vanagon GL, Rocky Jennings Heads, RMW Exhaust, ASL 5-speed, AMG Wheels
1981 Porsche 924 (931) Turbo
1972 Beetle (standard)

[pioneer1]

Did you put a jack under the area to relieve the downward pressure on the bolt? Are in the front or back shock-I've never had a problem like you are experiencing.
_________________
"Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"

'85 Porsche 911 Targa

'76 Westfalia project

[kirkvw72]

Yep, jack is relieving pressure. Bolt is seized to the shock collar. Soaked in oil. Tried 2lb sledge. Don't have a torch. At Menards right now to buy a saws all.
_________________
2015 VW GTi Autobahn
2000 Mercedes Benz E430
1992 Miata, automatic converted to a 5-speed
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1987 Porsche 944 (951) Turbo
1987 Vanagon GL, Rocky Jennings Heads, RMW Exhaust, ASL 5-speed, AMG Wheels
1981 Porsche 924 (931) Turbo
1972 Beetle (standard)

[syncrodoka]

12x1.5mm- 65mm long same as the upper.

[Christopher Schimke]

I'm sure you are probably trying to finish this job today, but I have both front and rear high quality shock bolts in stock if you need them.
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"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)

*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected]

[kirkvw72]

Chris - Thanks for the reply! I finished the project up!

Menards had the proper bolt.

14mm x 120mm (1.5 pitch), 10.9 grade bolt.

I ended up using a combination of a sawzall with a metal blade and my pneumatic 3" cut-off tool to make relief cuts in the shock collar. Once I had enough relief cuts, the PB blaster was used to try to loosen things up. From there, I took the largest vice-grips I had, plus my impact wrench to loosen the bolt from the collar. That only worked for one side of the shock collar, to my amazement. The bolt did start to move after seemingly hundreds of whacks with a 2.5 lb sledge. It only moved enough to clear one side of the lower control arm. From there, since I was stuck - again - I decided to use the cut-off tool to cut away the metal "eye-hole" to free the bolt. I also cut the head of the bolt off. After almost 4 hours, I got it all free. You should see what the old shock looks like now! I'll try to post a picture later.

Took only 45min to replace the spring, the upper control arm, put on the new shock, and mount the tire.
_________________
2015 VW GTi Autobahn
2000 Mercedes Benz E430
1992 Miata, automatic converted to a 5-speed
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1987 Porsche 944 (951) Turbo
1987 Vanagon GL, Rocky Jennings Heads, RMW Exhaust, ASL 5-speed, AMG Wheels
1981 Porsche 924 (931) Turbo
1972 Beetle (standard)

[presslab]

It's a good idea to put anti-sieze grease along the length of the bolt, so that it will be less likely to rust to the shock collar. I do this on all these suspension bushings.
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1986 Vanagon Westfalia EJ25
1988 Subaru GL-10 EJ20G --- 2000 Honda XR650L
2010 Titus El Guapo --- 2011 On-One 456 Ti

[kirkvw72]

Thanks for the idea. I actually had the forethought to do that on this new bolt. I'll be taking the other ones out to put antiseize on them too.
_________________
2015 VW GTi Autobahn
2000 Mercedes Benz E430
1992 Miata, automatic converted to a 5-speed
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1987 Porsche 944 (951) Turbo
1987 Vanagon GL, Rocky Jennings Heads, RMW Exhaust, ASL 5-speed, AMG Wheels
1981 Porsche 924 (931) Turbo
1972 Beetle (standard)

[therastavan]

Regarding the tapered ring that the front lower shock bolt goes into, how is that tapered ring installed? Do you just hammer it into the control arm hole first?

[ALIKA T3]

[therastavan]