I am working on removing the front right shock/spring assembly on my 2002 v6, and I have removed all of the bolts specified in the chilton manual. The shock/spring/bracket (not sure what it is called) that mounts to the chassis are essentially hanging and separated. I am not sure why I cannot remove the unit from this bracket-- I can rotate the shock/spring and the two upper bolts make this bracket move in unison. I've tried tapping the lower flat surface of the absorber in vain to encourage the bolts to separate from the bracket, but they are budging very little, and I'm wondering if there is a better method or if anyone has any experience with this situation?? I will post pictures tomorrow, as I am typing this up on my phone. Thanks for your time.

 

You ususally have to separate either the upper or lower ball joint to remove the spring/shock assembly. The upper joint will sometimes separate by removing the castelated nut, and tapping on the side of the joint with a hammer. The lower ball joint will separate with a pickle fork, but that will often damage the rubber boot on the joint, necessitating ball joint replacement.

 

Injuneer:

Thanks for your response. I wanted to avoid pulling it apart, as it wasn't documented, and so I needed to hear it from someone else. I will try the upper joint.

 

I've heard of people getting the assembly out without separating a ball joint, but it didn't work for me.

I have an online procedure that may help for the rest of the job:

http://www.injuneer.com/HALEibch.html

 

Ok, so I've removed the castellated nut, but the assembly doesn't want to lift up from that. I've linked my actual car's pictures below. Do I actually need to remove the bolts from the upper joint -- as shown in picture 4?

http://img440.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=boltscloseup.jpg

 

Have you ever separated a tapered joint before (like the ball joint)?

https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/sho...96&postcount=5

 

Ah, well no I have not. I understand the concept from your link -- just not where to place those hammers. Sorry if I'm being dense.

 

whew! ok.. got it off! Just used the claw from the back of a hammer for leverage and pulled down on the shock/spring assembly.

 

Looks like I have bigger fish to fry now?

 

Looks like a murky pic from the bottom of the gulf at the BP oil leak, but a rusted nut is pretty common. Make sure you have that spring compressed before getting it off.

 

There are flat spots on the outside of the knuckle hole where the joint goes through. Big hammer to back up one side and hit the other side with a ball pein. Someday I'll take a pic. Always easier to explain that way.

 

lol. Now that you mention it, it kinda does!

Yeah, I don't feel like impaling myself with a spring.
You say this is pretty common, should I just plan on torching it off? I can see the upper spring support being a casualty of that skirmish?

 

That's pretty common for an 8 year old car. Some people have had to cut through the shock shaft to get the assembly apart. Given the condition of the parts in the photo, you should buy new upper spring seats. My car was about 4 years old when I did the swap, and had never been in a winter salt environment. I bought new seats before even attempting to take the old assemblies apart.

 

Is the coil spring insulator also needed? The coil spring seat that I see on rockauto doesn't look like it contains everything needed.

 

Found my answer here:

https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=264770