Removing shock nuts

[T.Hanson]

Is there any trick to removing very tight Bilstein rear shock (double) nuts ?

Only the square end of the shaft for a tiny 1/4 wrench to keep it from doing so. Booger that, goodbye shock.

I pulled the shock out of the car by removing the mounting plate.

I've got penetrating oil on it. Tried a torch, short of cooking the rubber plate grommet.

Won't an air wrench just spin the shaft without it being held by the little wrench ?

[Mike W.]

Is there any trick to removing very tight Bilstein rear shock (double) nuts ?

Won't an air wrench just spin the shaft without it being held by the little wrench ?

No, an impact, as long as it's only on the top nut, will probably spin it loose. That's the beauty of impacts, shock, not just brute force.

No room to get a thin 17MM in there on the bottom?

[T.Hanson]

As usual, I flubbed the question.

Yes, the thin 17mm from the trunk set worked to hold the lower nut, using a breaker bar to (easily) remove the top nut.

It's the lower nut that is being obstinate.

Thank you,

[Mike W.]

As usual, I flubbed the question.

Yes, the thin 17mm from the trunk set worked to hold the lower nut, using a breaker bar to (easily) remove the top nut.

It's the lower nut that is being obstinate.

Thank you,

An impact will still, emphatically still, work well.

[T.Hanson]

I got my *#! old air compressor working after two months of learning their basics (?) and how eparts dealers say they know things they don't.

Anyway, as specified, an impact wrench took the offending shock nut right off.

O.T.: Where do I find the max pressure a 2 HP compressor will put in the tank ? Is it less with age ?

Mine cranks up to 80 psi and starts slipping the belt. New belt, tight, new pressure relief switch, new check valve to the tank.

The pressure switch is set for 125 lbs, 90 lbs. I'm guessing I might have to back off the settings. (With no help from Google.)

[Mike W.]

I got my *#! old air compressor working after two months of learning their basics (?) and how eparts dealers say they know things they don't.

Anyway, as specified, an impact wrench took the offending shock nut right off.

O.T.: Where do I find the max pressure a 2 HP compressor will put in the tank ? Is it less with age ?

Mine cranks up to 80 psi and starts slipping the belt. New belt, tight, new pressure relief switch, new check valve to the tank.

The pressure switch is set for 125 lbs, 90 lbs. I'm guessing I might have to back off the settings. (With no help from Google.)

There are no hard and fast numbers, kind of like going up a hill, how steep you can climb all depends on what gear you're in. The only thing you really don't want to do is overpressurize the tank or mess with the pressure relief valve. Exploding metal tanks are generally to be avoided.