How to Remove Shock Absorber Top Nut | Easy Guide

The internal part of a car's suspension is incomplete without a shock absorber. This mechanical or hydraulic device gives riders a comfortable ride by dampening or absorbing compression or shocks impulses.

Hence, ensuring a smooth function for shocks is essential. Otherwise, your comfort for the ride will be compromised. Whenever any abnormality pops up, inspect the shock absorber condition by removing it. Do you know how to remove shocks?

Loosening the bolts or nuts of shock absorbers is necessary for that. Hence, it is worth knowing how to remove shock absorber top nut and lower nut. This post will shine some light on how to remove shock absorber mounting bolts. Let's dive in!

How to Remove Shock Absorber Top Nut

Even if you own the best shock absorbers, repairing or replacing them after a specific time is necessary. Most of the time, we remove shock absorber bolts to either replace the shock absorber or fix it. Hence, knowing how to remove shocks is essential. Let's go through it step-by-step.

Step 1 — Chocking the Tires

Place chocks on the tire you want to work on. Keep at least one on the front side and another on the backside of the wheel. It prevents unwanted moving.

Step 2 — Increasing Car's Height

Now, use a car jack to raise the vehicle's height from one side where the tire is located. Then, place a jack stand to support the vehicle weight as cars are heavy.

Step 3 — Locating the Shock Absorber

Which shock absorber do you want to remove for shock leaking? If you wish to remove the front or rear shock absorber, both require following a similar method. However, their positions slightly vary.

For instance, you can reach the mounting bolts of the front shock absorber below the hood. On the contrary, accessing the lower shock bolts of a shock absorber requires you to go under the car.

Many cars allow you to reach the rear shock absorbers below the vehicle. Additionally, the top mounts of some cars have the option to access from the internal part of it.

Therefore, locating the perfect location of the shock absorber, especially the top nut, is essential.

Step 4 — Removing Shock Absorber Top Nut

A shock absorber has both top and below nuts. So, why should you remove shock absorber mounting bolts first? It allows you to take out the shock from below when you first remove the top nut.

So, how to remove shock absorber top nut? You need a shock absorber removal tool like a wrench to hold the mounting nut. Next, take another shock nut removal tool (a wrench can do the job) to prevent the shock from moving unwantedly. Finally, loosen the nut while holding the shock from rotating.

Step 5 — Removing Shock Absorber Lower Nut

After removing the shock absorber mounting bolts using a strut top nut removal tool, removing the lower nut becomes easy. You just loosen the nut, and the complete Monroe strut will through the bottom of the car. Use a high-quality strut nut remover to take off the nut.

How to Tighten Top Nut on Shock

Loosening or tightening the top nut on shock requires you to follow the same process but reverse direction. To tighten the top nut on shock, you want first to locate the flat spot of the shock absorber.

Finishing this task requires you have two open-end wrenches. Use one open-end wrench to hold the top nut and another one to keep the shock in position. It stops unwanted movements. Now, tighten it correctly.

So, to what extent you should tighten the top nut on shock? How will you know whether you have tightened it appropriately or not? You should tighten it as long as the bushing extends (bulges) to the equal outer width of the metal shock.

But make sure you don't overdo it. Otherwise, you may end up crushing the bush, and the flexibility in the bush will be compromised. As a result, the shock will show wear and tear soon, and you will have no option but to replace it.

FAQ

How do you get a bolt out of a shock absorber?

Before taking out a bolt of a shock absorber, make sure you compress the spring. Otherwise, it will cause serious bodily injury.

Many professional experts recommend using a 21 mm socket, which features wrench flats on end.

This type of tool helps you to hold the rod of the shock absorber firmly. Then you use one tool to hold the rod and the other to loosen and remove the nut.

If you want to remove upper and lower nuts, remove the upper nut first and then the lower nut. It makes the job easy.

How do you remove a stuck lower shock bolt?

A shock bolt may become rusty. It may stick on the shock heavily, preventing you from removing it. The first thing you will do is removing dirt and dust from the shock surface using a wire brush. Next, add penetrating oil such as PB B'laster inside it. Soak it well.

Now, let it stay in that conditions for a few minutes. Next, use a hammer to provide a tinch of light taps. This allows you to loosen the area of the contact. Then use a 6-sided wrench or socket to break it freely.

Can shock absorbers get stuck?

Yes, a shock absorber can get stuck. You may notice it by several signs such as bouncing vehicles, making an unusual noise, etc. Stucking issue mainly occurs when the shock is frozen, causing failure of the smooth suspension system.

Can struts freeze up?

Regardless you have the best struts or a typical one; they are less likely to freeze up since there is only oil inside them, which don't become frozen. When your strut is not functioning properly, it means it is damaged, or water might be entered inside it that has become frozen.

Conclusion

Are you still wondering how to remove shock absorber top nut? Surely not! We have outlined all the steps to do it properly. Make sure you take care of your shock absorber properly to prevent wear and tear.