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Lesley
GenIII
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6/08/2002
19:57:42

Subject: How do I?.....
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I gave up after spending most of the afternoon trying to install new front shocks. The bottom nuts and bolts were easy enough to remove, but the top one in the engine bay just keeps turning with the shock. I tried ratchet, crescent wrench, and all the bad words I know. Is there a trick to removing it? Thanks guys.

97 3.9 CC Sport. Black. Auto 3.55, Quick D Intake, JBA Stainless headers, Autolite 3923s, stainless Borla Turbo XL, V8 TB, FMS 19 lb fuel injectors, 17" Boyd Coddington Smoothies. Have, but not installed: JBA 9mm cables, Borla tip, IAT adjuster

DakotaDan
*GenIII*
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6/08/2002
20:06:37

RE: How do I?.....
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get the TORCH out and burn the nuts off that's what I've done in the past.

Dan
K&N FIPK # 57-1517 * DynoMax #17748 * OEM 5.2/5.9 V8 TB #53032691AA * Crower 1.7 Roller Rockers # 73654K * Autolite 3923's
Factory Flares * WeatherTechs * Saddleman Low Profile Tonneau

Alan P
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2002
20:20:42

RE: How do I?.....
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Lesley,can you get a strap wrench on it?,like the ones that SEARS sells

Alan P

98 V6 auto sport CC w/mods



intense99dak
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2002
21:35:33

RE: How do I?.....
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It's been so long since I've changed out the factory shocks I really can't remember, but most shocks have some sort of "wrench attachment" on the very top of them.

My Edelbrocks took a 6mm wrench at the very top and a 15mm wrench for the large nut. The Bilsteins I just installed have an allen wrench "socket" built into the rod that holds it while you turn the nut.

If worse comes to worse see if you can get a pair of pliers, vice-grips or needle-nose pliers between the coils and hold the shaft (I take it you're not going to keep them?). What might be easier if there's enough bolt length is to use the vice-gripe/pliers on the top of the shock rod and then use a wrench under them on the nut.

Also take the time tonight to soak the nuts with WD-40 or something to loosen up the rust and crud on them.

Sorry I couldn't be more help, but the factory shocks were thrown out a couple years ago.

Chuck Robbins
'99 IB Dakota Sport

Visit my site at intense99dak.com






N8 dawg
Dodge Dakota
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6/09/2002
02:04:15

RE: How do I?.....
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i just recently changed my coil springs and i had to get some pliers and hold the top of the shock....wasnt very hard and didnt damage the shock.

and used the torch today to get the hangers off......that was a pain but finally got the rear ½ way lowered! other side is still on the jacks =) one of the hangers isnt lining up right with the bolt holes =(



Rooknute
Dodge Dakota
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6/10/2002
06:01:39

RE: How do I?.....
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I think intense99dak is right, if you look at the top of the shock there should be a place for you to hold the shock with plyers or a wrench. When I changed mine, my new shocks were like that. I can't remember if the factory ones are like that or not. It was still a b*tch to try to get 2 hands up there and turn everything but its better than paying someone ealse to do it. ;) Good luck





98FlameRdDak
Dodge Dakota
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6/10/2002
07:35:39

RE: How do I?.....
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Um, what year of Dakotas have coil springs in them? Just wondering since I have torsion bars on mine and when I changed my front shocks, I had no problem getting a pair of vise grips on shaft of the shock and was able to remove the top nut with no problem.

Mark



IntenseDak39
*GenIII*
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6/10/2002
14:46:37

RE: How do I?.....
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4X4s have torsion bars and 2X4s have coil springs...


intensedak39


alex
Dodge Dakota
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6/10/2002
15:06:47

RE: How do I?.....
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What I did was go to Pep Boys and spend about $7 on the little jewel at this link right here:

http://www.lislecorp.com/tools/catalog/suspens/index.htm

That way I didn't have to worry about the pliers leaving little burs on the stem of the shock absorber which will eventually rip the seal and cause the shock to leak until it's empty.

It is one hell of a tool. My front shocks took me about 15 minutes each without air tools and that's on a 4.7 truck! Get yourself one today!! How's that for a plug, there, Harlow?



alex
Dodge Dakota
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6/10/2002
15:11:05

RE: How do I?.....
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Sorry! Scroll down to the 20390 and 20400 Shock Absorber Tools. That's the set-up......



Jesse T.
Dodge Dakota
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6/10/2002
15:29:27

RE: How do I?.....
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I think the best way is to remove the tire this way you can get right to the top of the schock and you will nee a #6mm and like a 14mm or 15mm wrench, one to hold the top while you remove the other nut. Much easier to remove the tire.

Jesse T.



Lesley
GenIII
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6/10/2002
15:38:46

RE: How do I?.....
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Thanks all! I'll give it another go this weekend.

97 3.9 CC Sport. Black. Auto 3.55, Quick D Intake, JBA Stainless headers, Autolite 3923s, stainless Borla Turbo XL, V8 TB, FMS 19 lb fuel injectors, 17" Boyd Coddington Smoothies. Have, but not installed: JBA 9mm cables, Borla tip, IAT adjuster

alex
Dodge Dakota
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6/10/2002
16:24:57

RE: How do I?.....
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With the shock nut tool, it's pretty easy to just reach in from the top. Maybe an extension on the ratchet will help and make sure the exhaust manifolds have cooled off for a while, too. Smoked knuckles only smell good if it's a pig we're talking about. hahahahaha



Lesley
GenIII
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6/10/2002
17:00:00

RE: How do I?.....
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My pinky finger can attest to the fact that my headers are hot, hot, hot!

97 3.9 CC Sport. Black. Auto 3.55, Quick D Intake, JBA Stainless headers, Autolite 3923s, stainless Borla Turbo XL, V8 TB, FMS 19 lb fuel injectors, 17" Boyd Coddington Smoothies. Have, but not installed: JBA 9mm cables, Borla tip, IAT adjuster

alex
Dodge Dakota
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6/10/2002
17:45:37

Did it sound like this....
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TTttsssssssssssssssYEEEEEOWWWWCH!

hahahahah...... been there, done that. I'm also a big fan of the steel heater hoses that run across the top of the intake manifold on the 4.7..... they take about 3-4 hours to cool off so you can change the plugs or remove anything. My forearms sport their own racing stripes from time to time.



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