I tried to replace my front shocks, realized the lower nut is thick as a washer and will round in a socket. Dealer says bolts as discontinued, no standard sizes fit, scrap yard doesnt want to pull them out.

How have you guys done it? Any of you know the thread pitch so I can at least try to remove the nut and have new nuts ready?

 

I just soaked mine with Kroil and gave it hell with my impact. They came out OK. I wire brushed them, and it all went back fine I think the user named AKdoggie recently posted the bolt and nut specs in another thread.

BTW, that nut has a dog ear on it to keep it from spinning once it hits the bottom of the control arm.



The yellow arrow is where the dog eared nut. The red arrow is just a plate.... and I think that is what you are thinking is the nut?

 

Thanks ill try that

 

So , why dont YOU go to scrap yard and pull them out???
This is exactly what scrap yards are for

 

Because in insurance-crazy safe-space-for-everyone Canada, scrap yards, except those meant for it (like kenny-u-pull, 100km from here) won't let you work on their donors.

Anyway, got grade 5 1/2" bolts at work, modified some 3/8" washers to fit in the recess where the lower bolt's head is. I should be ready for any circumstance. I've read 1/2" bolts fit in the 12mm shock lower hole on these trucks (talk about tolerances). If they don't, drill away it'll be.

Shocks are supposed to be one of the easiest jobs around they said...

 

Boy.... I'd guess that'd be too big. I know mine had a 13mm head on them.

 

I'd guess too but I found that on just answer

Expert: Scottdagoaliereplied 7 years ago.
The bolts on the lower shocks are 12 mm (or 1/2" will work) X 3 1/2" long. The bolts are not specially hardened and you can use standard bolts to replace them with.

I'll try it... If they don't fit I'll drill the control arm.

Anyway I've tried bolt sizes when I bought the shocks and 12mm looked pretty loose in the lower bushing. 1/2 too. It should have been 13mm to be snug but still allow some movement. But it doesn't exist.

 

Wait a minute, I've done these quite a few times. First tell me what you mean by grade 5.5" lol. Btw, imo the manufacturer used the wrong spec bolt for the lower shock mounts since they didn't use shock bushing bolts... for the lower front mount. I can guarantee it's not a specified shock mount bolt, it's a bolt, (as chintzy as it sounds) "good enough". Can't believe it got thru QC...for quite a few years. Hardness is there, but the shank is missing. All shocks that mount in this way use solid shank through hole bushing bolts...no substitute. Anyway, yea, tell me what you meant by that so I know where to go next .

 

Jbrew, he said grade 5 1/2" bolts lol. Not grade 5 and a half. I had to read it a couple times to figure it out lol.

 

I took mine to a shop to change (after I bought them) they couldn't get them off with impacts so they cut the bolts. And put new ones on for free. Lol