62 rear shock replacement

[John F.]

My ride height is too low and replacing the leafs is not feasible. I can't get the upper nut loose. With the cross frame I can barely get a wrench on the nut. I can get the bottom of the shock off. I have tried getting a snubby gear wrench on the top, turning the case of the shock countercloclwise just spins. The shocks on it are Delco. I want to replace with Monroe air shocks to get the ride height up. Any suggestions?

[Dale S.]

Re: 62 rear shock replacement

I dont know about 62's but will answer so you go to the top of the page. Dale

[Roy B.]

Re: 62 rear shock replacement

Use a deeper socket for the nut , use vise grips to hold the shock at the top from turning , or get one of those small oil filter clamps to hold and turn the shock as you lock the nut from moving. Then buy AIR shocks to aide the spring to raise the body

[John F.]

Re: 62 rear shock replacement

Roy, I can't even get a socket on the top nut that is on the top of the rear shock. The rod from the top of the shock is inside a channel that I can barely get a stubby gear wrench on. No way to get vise grips in there. I may have to extend the bottom of the shock as far as possible and try to get a pipe wrench or maybe a vise grip to grip onto the shaft of the shock. Am I making sense here?

[Roy B.]

Re: 62 rear shock replacement

Roy, I can't even get a socket on the top nut that is on the top of the rear shock. The rod from the top of the shock is inside a channel that I can barely get a stubby gear wrench on. No way to get vise grips in there. I may have to extend the bottom of the shock as far as possible and try to get a pipe wrench or maybe a vise grip to grip onto the shaft of the shock. Am I making sense here?

Your probably making more sense them me . But if you can hold the nut some how , and don't wont to screw the shock up, like I said you know those little oil filters ,if you can buy a strap device to go around the upper part so as to turn the shock ( it's one piece ) I think that would brake the nut loose. Using the air shocks you can set the end up or down by adding air pressure ,they work great ,I have them on my 55 and love them.

[John F.]

Re: 62 rear shock replacement

Roy, I can get the gear wrench on the nut over the threaded end on top of the shock, but grabbing the upper shock casing it just turns, but doesn't back off the nut. I will try tomorrow to get some kind of a wrench on the shaft. It is pretty slick with piston fluid.

[John H.]

Re: 62 rear shock replacement

John -

If you remove the gas tank cover, you should find a pair of access holes (with paper covers glued over them) to get a socket on those upper shock nuts.

[John F.]

Re: 62 rear shock replacement

I removed the access cover and can't find any place for holes. Do you need to remove the tank? It appears the original tank is in the car. Where are the paper covers relative to the tank and straps?

[Bruce B.]

Re: 62 rear shock replacement

The 2 access holes with the paper covers are behind the gas tank on the flat which the tank covers fastens to. I am not sure if these holes were on all solid axle cars.
I had the same problem removing the shock nuts on my 62 (I don't think I had access holes) and did find a ratchet wrench to hold them. Use a lot of WD40.
Good luck.

[John F.]

Re: 62 rear shock replacement

Bruce, I sure don't see a place for a hole. I can get a stubby wrench on the nut but how did you turn the rod coming out of the shock?

[Mike E.]

Re: 62 rear shock replacement

61-62 did not have access holes in the gas tank area.
The top of the shock has a flat area that accepts, as I recall, a 5/16 wrench. I've put that wrench on after placing the ratcheting wrench on the nut, and then had luck getting the nut off.
That worked better on my cars in Southern Cal than it has here in Wisconsin.
I've also used the ratcheting wrench, after soaking the nut for a long time, and turned the entire top of the shock--used a strap type wrench to grab the upper shock body and turn that while holding the nut up top.
Bottom line--old shocks are hard work to get off. These cars were designed to be easy to assemble and save GM dollars there--not to be worked on later on.
Good luck!

[Bruce B.]

Re: 62 rear shock replacement

John,
Mikes recommendation is how to attack the problem.
With the shock fully extended(bottom not fastened to the bracket) it might be possible to get vise grips on the shaft, if not cut the top shield to get to the shaft. The problem with that is the shaft is very hard and the vise grips might not hold. At that point you might take a die grinder and roughen the shaft so the vise grips will hold.
When you reinstall the shocks put a little anti-seize on the threads and the removal will be easier the next time.