C3 (1974) Rear Shock Mount Removal

[Paul L.]

I need to replace the rear strut rods (I have new adjustable units for replacement) on my 1974 so the shock mounts have to come out. I have the VBP "pound on" tool. Do I PB Blaster before? How hard can I hit without damaging, or cracking, the rear spindle legs? Need advice/tips. Thanks!

Those mounts are basically corrosion-free (CA car).

[John H.]

Re: C3 (1974) Rear Shock Mount Removal

I need to replace the rear strut rods (I have new adjustable units for replacement) on my 1974 so the shock mounts have to come out. I have the VBP "pound on" tool. Do I PB Blaster before? How hard can I hit without damaging, or cracking, the rear spindle legs? Need advice/tips. Thanks!

Those mounts are basically corrosion-free (CA car).

Paul -

Use PB Blaster or Kroil on the mount for a day or two ahead of time, and I've had good luck using an air hammer on the "knocker" tool to pop them loose; no danger of breaking one of the support legs.

[Paul L.]

Re: C3 (1974) Rear Shock Mount Removal

Paul -

Use PB Blaster or Kroil on the mount for a day or two ahead of time, and I've had good luck using an air hammer on the "knocker" tool to pop them loose; no danger of breaking one of the support legs.

Thanks John. I do not have an air hammer but will give it a try by hand.

[Bob D.]

Re: C3 (1974) Rear Shock Mount Removal

Paul

My car was a California car also and when I removed the mounts they popped right out. I used Kroil and soaked them for a day or two and then used a small sledge hammer. ONe of them went flying across the garage.

Bob

[Paul L.]

Re: C3 (1974) Rear Shock Mount Removal

Paul

My car was a California car also and when I removed the mounts they popped right out. I used Kroil and soaked them for a day or two and then used a small sledge hammer. ONe of them went flying across the garage.

Bob

Thanks for those encouraging words. Fingers are crossed!

[Gary R.]

Re: C3 (1974) Rear Shock Mount Removal

Paul,
Soak them good and maybe heat them. The last ones I did were on a set of 69 T/A's that were FROZEN on. Since I was rebuilding the arms I ended up pressing them off with the support removed from the arms. The spindle knocker didn't work and the threads were starting the collapse. The press loaded up and popped them off with a loud bang, no damage or injury.

[Paul L.]

Re: C3 (1974) Rear Shock Mount Removal

Paul,
Soak them good and maybe heat them. The last ones I did were on a set of 69 T/A's that were FROZEN on. Since I was rebuilding the arms I ended up pressing them off with the support removed from the arms. The spindle knocker didn't work and the threads were starting the collapse. The press loaded up and popped them off with a loud bang, no damage or injury.

Where is the problem point? The inner sleeves of the bushings on the shock mount shaft?

[Gary R.]

Re: C3 (1974) Rear Shock Mount Removal

Yes, just like the front T/A bolt, they sometime rust weld along the length of the mount & the kurled end.

[Paul L.]

Re: C3 (1974) Rear Shock Mount Removal

Yes, just like the front T/A bolt, they sometime rust weld along the length of the mount & the kurled end.

So you just SawZall them off and punch out the remnants? All parts I have are new.

[Gary R.]

Re: C3 (1974) Rear Shock Mount Removal

I have never had to saw them off. I soak,heat and use the tool or remove them with the arms and then press apart.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 (1974) Rear Shock Mount Removal

So you just SawZall them off and punch out the remnants? All parts I have are new.

Paul------


If it comes to that, the Sawzall approach is the "court of last resort". Of course, if the shims cannot be first removed, then one has to saw through the shims to get to the bolt. A lot of work but it has been and can be done. Just be sure to have plenty of really good blades handy.

I have little experience with this sort of thing, though, since I live in California and my Corvettes have always lived in California.