1967 Shock Replacement Procedure

[Salvatore I.]

Being a novice on things automotive, can I get some guidnace on how to remove front and rear shocks on a 1967 SB. I am assuming that the car does not need to have the wheels off the ground or any relief of the suspension to get the shocks out, but is that true on both the front and rear?

Any special considerations? A fellow at a local car show told me that sometimes the front shocks may be worn or the nut on so tight/rusted in place, that the entire piston rotates and will not lossen the nut...any technigues to get this removed...?

Thanks for the advice.

[Chuck R.]

Re: 1967 Shock Replacement Procedure

Hi Sal,

The car show dude was correct that in many instances, the piston shaft will want to rotate when wrenched.

If the end of the shock will allow, you can clamp a pair of vise grips on the very end, hit the nut with a good penetrating oil and it should give way. Now with the advent of dremmels and air tools, you could also use a cut off wheel and just take one side off the nut and it should break free with the wrench on the remaining nut.

The lower bolts are the ones you will need to finess, by spraying the exposed bolt ends with penetrating oil and gently working nothing larger than a 3/8" drive socket or wrench on the bolts. Anything larger for a ratchet and you can very easily twist the heads off losing a probably original bolt (if you care about them that way) plus not to mention having to drill out the bolt carcass. If the bolts start to come out but start to turn harder the more you wind them out, STOP and wind the bolt back in and once again give it a quick hit of oil. Once the bolt starts generating heat by friction, it can again allow the head to twist off.

The same will hold true for the rears. Penetrating oil and taking your time if you want to save the bolts/nuts.

You definately need to have the wheels off but that's it.

Just make sure that the car is supported properly on jack stands or blocking so that there are no surprises.

Good luck, Chuck

[Salvatore I.]

Re: 1967 Shock Replacement Procedure

Thanks Chuck for the advice...it is appreciated.