Replacing these shocks should be a one hour job, two hours tops –
I told myself, “Check the new parts to make sure they are good before starting,” but I didn’t do it. Can you see what the problem with that was?
The bushing on the lower shock is not installed correctly. I thought I could push it in, but I can’t. It squashes down, then rebounds to this position when pressure is taken off. So this whole shock is junk, and I’m buying a new pair of shocks to replace this new shock. What great quality control we have these days. I’ve gotten so many bad new parts now – maybe I will learn to check them before taking my car apart this time!
But it gets better –
That is what’s called a “speed nut.” It’s rusted onto the bolt. There’s a corresponding bottom half under the shock. The top and bottom parts of the nuts were only held together by two small tabs, which have broken off. So now the top half of the nut spins freely, when the bolt is turned, and there’s no good way to hold it. I haven’t been able to do it with vice grips. I’ve soaked it down good with WD-40 penetrating oil, but that hasn’t worked yet. Maybe it will. I got the other nut off.
I thought I would have this car back into service weeks ago. I’m really on a run of bad luck with it. These are easy jobs that I’ve done before, without issue, but it’s all a disaster this time.