Rear shocks questions

[Natesriv]

Quick backstory

I've been tracking down a noise coming from the passenger side rear of my car for almost since I've had it.

It's a weird almost popping, hollowish tapping sound.. (good description huh?) and it happens over bumps & undulations...the quick rapid type...

It's worse on cold days and almost not there on hot days... a sure sign in my mind of something in the shock is wrong, either internal or assembly wise.

So I switched them from side to side, now the majority of the noise moved too. I'm beginning to wonder if the driver's side was a little wrong too...

whew!

Sorry for the long story. My question is, the upper part of the shock tower has that adapter to bolt it to the body, how in the heck do you get the shock out of that adapter? I used a socket on the bolt, but it just turns the shaft of the shock... The top of the shock shaft is squared off, but with the socket on, can't access it...

Do I use that squared off part to turn the shaft of the shock against that bolt? Or is that adapter part actually part of the shock.

Thanks amigos!

 

[wasteoffilm]

You need a tool like this

Lisle 20400 Universal Shock Absorber Tool : Amazon.com : Automotive

You combine that with two wrenches, the black part holds the nut, the gray parts have different size holes to hold the shaft, pick the one that fits, and go.

They are slightly hard to find anymore though. I grabbed mine at an old-school parts store, the package was so yellow you couldn't see through it.

 

[theenico]

Put a pair of Vise Grips on your shaft just below the bushing/adapter thingy. Hold the Vise Grips while working the nut with your wrench or socket.

Do not clamp your shaft down at the base. If you do, any marks left on your shaft will hit the seals within the shock. And that's not cool.

 

[Italianjoe1]

As mentioned, either vise grip the very top of the shaft, or try with an impact gun, sometimes the hammering can loosen them up without grabbing the shock itself.

 

[$ub$onic]

I used a impact. It went smoothly

I also used penetrating oil also

 

[Natesriv]

You need a tool like this

Lisle 20400 Universal Shock Absorber Tool : Amazon.com : Automotive

You combine that with two wrenches, the black part holds the nut, the gray parts have different size holes to hold the shaft, pick the one that fits, and go.

They are slightly hard to find anymore though. I grabbed mine at an old-school parts store, the package was so yellow you couldn't see through it.

Hard to tell from that pic, on mine the top of the shaft is squared off, like this tool would work
Great Neck OEM 25284 Shock Absorber Socket - Amazon.com

 

[Natesriv]

As mentioned, either vise grip the very top of the shaft, or try with an impact gun, sometimes the hammering can loosen them up without grabbing the shock itself.

I agree with both of you on this... I can vise grip the upper shaft then get the nut loose.

Sure would be easy and a good idea for ANY shock maker to have the upper part of the shaft have some capability for a wrench to fit it. Since I've not seen a shock use that much travel.

The car is driveable, and I don't plan on switching shocks anytime soon... but when I do, GM sure didn't make it easy!

And like I said, there's virtually NO aftermarket shocks for this car at all!!

 

[wasteoffilm]

Hard to tell from that pic, on mine the top of the shaft is squared off, like this tool would work
Great Neck OEM 25284 Shock Absorber Socket - Amazon.com

Even harder to tell from that pic, because all they show you is the 3/8" square hole for the socket wrench.

The tip should be flat on two sides, round on two sides. This is an image of the one that fit mine. They all look the same, this was the largest of the three.

 

[SPOTWORK]

Pedders does performance shocks ;-)

 

[laborsmith]

Pedders does performance shocks ;-)

For the Sonic?

Laborsmith

 

[SPOTWORK]

Ya, if u contacted them I'm sure they would sell u a pair separate from their coilover kit. The shocks they have are 30 way adjustable for dampening

 

[mitdr774]

Two things.

First is, good luck getting a response from them. Second would be that I doubt they will break a set just to sell the rear shocks.

 

[laborsmith]

Two things.

First is, good luck getting a response from them. Second would be that I doubt they will break a set just to sell the rear shocks.

Totally agree.

Laborsmith

 

[Natesriv]

UPDATE

ordered the universal shock tool... $10.75 online... Amazon... too cheap to NOT order it

 

[SPOTWORK]

I agree with your first point entirely. But if u could get someone on the phone I dont think it would be much of a problem getting a pair. Although nobody has tryed

 

[laborsmith]

I agree with your first point entirely. But if u could get someone on the phone I dont think it would be much of a problem getting a pair. Although nobody has tryed

As someone who actually had Pedders lowering coils on his first Sonic and contacted Pedders and my local Pedders dealers several time over the four months before I went to Eibach lowering springs on my second Sonic, I beg to disagree with your conjecture. True I was not interested in dampers, front or rear, but the lowering coils I wanted were not then and are not now available.

Do I believe Pedders would consider breaking up a coilover kit to sell the rear dampers. No. Would a reseller? Maybe but I doubt it.

But as you said, I did not call/email about their dampers. I wanted their lowering coils and that was the purpose of the multiple inquiries.


Laborsmith