I'm trying to replace the rear shocks on my 93 240 wagon.

I've done the front struts successfully, but I'm having trouble with the rear.

I can't get the lower bolt out of the rear swing-arm so I can remove the rear shock.

I notice the sway-bar is attached with this same bolt so maybe I have to neutralize its tension to get the bolt out. If so, how do I do that?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jim

If you find the bolt rusted to the sleeve you might try what worked for me.

That sleeve is a piece of rolled steel. That means it will have a seam in it. The rubber on the bottom end of the shock will hide what you need to see so the rubber has to go.

I removed the rubber by burning it out with a propane torch. You have to be careful!! Have your fire extinguisher and/or water in place before you start.

After the rubber is gone you will be able to move the bottom end of the shock some and expose more of that rolled sleeve. Rotate the bolt until you locate the seam. Use a nice sharp chisel on the seam line and give a few sharp cracks with a hammer. Repeat on the other end of the sleeve. That should break the bond between the sleeve and bolt.

Don't beat on the thread end of the bolt. Install the nut so that your hammer is hitting both the end of the bolt and the nut evenly and you should be able to reuse the nut and bolt- the sleeve is part of the shock.

Good luck,
Randy

randy

this is the precisely the BEST way of removing rear front control arm bushings that seize to the arm.

i have tried your method on the lower shock bolt with mixed results owing mainly to the crappy angle of attack.

on the upper shock bolt the easiest way to disarm a seized nut is to unfasten the stud itself from the cars frame by loosening the nut which is visible from underneath the car high up on the frame

Illustrating Ted's point:






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Art Benstein near Baltimore

A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."

Art! It is amazing that you have a photo for almost everything we encounter on these 240's.
Great job. I need to meet you in person one day.
That airport encounter didn't count. :)

Thanks Mr. Marino,

I'd be honored (again).

You see, I took the photos as a memory crutch at first, and now it is just a habit. That is all giving way to youtube videos, which for this work are still in their infancy as far as being detailed and useful, but that will change.

I often think of you when I put on my Manny Machado shirt. :)
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says "Dam!".

hi art ben- your knowledge is high and your patience is great. have often fooled with this kind of a problem. so far overnight soaks with pb blaster and breaker bars with cheaters have worked. do remember you have great knowledge of maytag washers too. have made a note to myself to call you when i have to r and r the transmission in my A108 from 77. may even drive up there to see you but not today. hear that blizzard is going to be superbad. as i recall your garage is near stinking creek, maryland.often pass by there. best regards and thanks for all your help oldduke

"...hear that blizzard is going to be superbad. "

Yes, I can only recall two deeper snows. The television news claims we have 19" and are due another 1-3 where I am. And our fleet of 240s (to keep this post legal).

"...have made a note to myself to call you when i have to r and r the transmission in my A108 from 77..."

I did need to revisit the old washing machine and decided to go ahead and patch the rust holes in the drum with fiberglas mesh and POR-15, replacing basket bearing and seals to avoid shelling out good money on the 5-year stuff they build today. But alas, the transmission is bullet proof.

"...as i recall your garage is near stinking creek, maryland"

Don't rightly know of any "stinking creek" in Maryland, the Land of Pleasant Living (when it isn't snowing?). Perhaps you drove I-75 once and passed a sign in Tennesee, or read a novel set in Kentucky. Or, having officer of the court standing, Esquire, you may be referring to a certain tributary of the Artibonite River, Haiti’s primary water source.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

hi art- now watch it with that basket bearing on the a108. dont think that bearing and seals are available anymore. to keep things legal- here is a curiosity- to wit every day it seems other drivers with poor upbringing voice foul words at me and make obscene hand gestures at my 92 245 when i start off in first gear at a light or drive I 95. one wastrel yelled at me- put a f'n v8 in that mf! bet it would be worse with an automatic. do you have to put up with that? thanks for your sage insights. oldduke

Sure is nice to work on southern cars!
Dan

Yep, you have it pretty cushy. :)
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.

I agree for the most part but TAB's and rear position from control arms almost universally have been a PIA due to rust / corrosion issues.

News says 49 of the 50 states currently has snow on the ground. North Florida did a few weeks ago.
Dan

you have very few options to get it loose.

1. vise grip might work but i doubt it
2. an acetylene torch to heat the crap out of the sleeve and then use vise grips might work
3. mostly likely you will have to angle grind through the sleeve/bolt and remove then finding another bolt and sleeve

"I can't get the lower bolt out of the rear swing-arm so I can remove the rear shock."

Either have the body supported on stands and raise/lower the axle/trailing arm. Or have the axle on stands and raise lower the body. Remember that you are likely working under the car so make sure the weight is properly supported.

First remove the upper part of the shock by removing the nut and pulling off .

The lower bolt may give trouble during removal because it may be seized to the spacer sleeve it is inserted in. You could try gripping the sleeve with vise grips while turning the bolt.
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb, M46 trans, 3:31 dif, in Brampton, Ont.

Thanks for the response.

I've got a jack under the swing arm but I don't know how much to jack it up to equalize the tension.

Should I tap on the bolt as I jack to find the sweet spot?

A little at a time until the bolt moves out easily.
Dan

OK. Thanks, Dan. Back to the garage.

Just wanted to second Dan's advice, I just did this yesterday, exactly as he advised.

You need to put a jack under the rear part of the trailing arm to take the pressure off the extended shock. Once you do that the bolt will be easy to remove.
Dan