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Rear Shock Removal
06-24-2009 | 11:46 AM
#24
Registered User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Provo, UT
Just adding my 2cents to this issue as I have just replaced the 90k mile shocks on my 994Runner. Mine had Bilsteins installed by the dealer before I took delivery. Shocks were blown so I needed to replace. The top studs on mine had tones of corrosion on them and I couldn't bust the nuts free for the life of me. No chance trying to put a hex in the top of the stud either...not enough room for any leverage. Short of cutting the piston as others have mentioned (no sawzall for me) I took an even more interesting approach. Since twisting the nut on top just spun the whole piston, I cut lil notches in the piston with a dremel, then got the vice grips out and put them on in the notches as tight as I could. That did the trick in holding the piston stationary. Got the nut all the way off on one side and actually sheared the stud off while turning the nut off on the other side. 10 winters of salty roads had the threads pretty impossible.
I had both rear tires off and the spare which helped having room to sit under the truck while I swore at Toyota for their fantastic design of those upper mounts :p
I had both rear tires off and the spare which helped having room to sit under the truck while I swore at Toyota for their fantastic design of those upper mounts :p
06-24-2009 | 03:06 PM
#25
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
I just had my rears done a few weeks ago. I had the same problems with them being rusted really bad. I gave up and took it to the shop because it was becoming more work than it was worth (the shop quoted 1 hour labor ) and it took them 2 hours on a lift with a grinder to get mine off. They still charged me only 1 hour labor though, so I think got a pretty good deal.
03-01-2015 | 07:12 PM
#26
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
there is a nipple on the top of the shock where the top nut is rusted on. you need to cut below the nut. Then remove the bolt that holds the bottom of the shock on and you can pry it off.
You can replace the springs while you have the shocks off, it is easier than taking the lower bolts off the shocks again later. Springs are easy to replace. they should basically drop out or need a little compression with a coil compressor that yo can rent for next to nothing.
You can replace the springs while you have the shocks off, it is easier than taking the lower bolts off the shocks again later. Springs are easy to replace. they should basically drop out or need a little compression with a coil compressor that yo can rent for next to nothing.
03-04-2015 | 05:55 AM
#27
Contributing Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,755
Likes: 45
From: Ellicott City, MD
It really is a piss-poor design. I've done this 6 or 7 times on my 4Runner and others. Sometimes the shock just snaps off, sometimes I cut them off. A 2" hole in the floor with a rubber body plug would have made sense...
Andreas
03-18-2015 | 12:16 PM
#28
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I just sawed mine off right underneath the bushing and am having trouble getting it out. The shaft nub still spins when I try to ratchet the top nut off and I can't seem to pry or hammer it out.
03-18-2015 | 12:25 PM
#29
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Yes... get your sawzall or mini grinder out, and make quick work of the shaft on that shock. I don't even take a wrench out anymore when it's time to remove rear shocks on my 4Runner.
There's nothing else that goes in that hole. The rubber bushings hold the shock shaft in place. It is possible that the holes have worn / rusted bigger over the years. If that's the case, and it's really bad, consider getting that repaired before mounting the new shocks.
There's nothing else that goes in that hole. The rubber bushings hold the shock shaft in place. It is possible that the holes have worn / rusted bigger over the years. If that's the case, and it's really bad, consider getting that repaired before mounting the new shocks.
Nevermind, I figured it out. It wasn't really clear on this forum but I used my sawzall and cut right thru the lower bushing underneath the mount and it came right off. I first just the shock off right under the bushing/washer but that was too low and it still spun and did not come off. Need to cut thru the bushing and shaft to get 'er done
Last edited by drichardson90; 03-18-2015 at 07:05 PM.
03-22-2015 | 01:28 PM
#33
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
That was me! Sorry. I was trying to post until I got to 15 so I could start a thread for an issue I have with my 4runner. Apparently that'd frowned upon and it was deleted by admin. I have been making a couple people angry and I apologize.
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