When I did the front shocks on my '85 I started by squirting break free stuff on the nuts and bolts every day for a week and a half.  I was able to hold the unthreaded portion of the shaft with an adjustable wrench while backing off the nut.

If you've already rounded the flats you may have to go with more violent clamping methods and hold the shaft steady until you get the nut up far enough to cut it off.

Chuck
'85 Wolfsburg Westy -- 'Roland'

In a message dated Tue, 27 Feb 2001 10:56:54 AM Eastern Standard Time, Tom Young <tomyoung1@HOME.COM> writes:

<< Hi all:

Since I replace the front shocks on my '81 Vanagon only 10-12 years
ago you'd think I'd know the answer to this question, wouldn't you?

I'm trying to remove the top nut, but the whole assembly (nut and
threaded portion of shock) is turning.  I don't think it's corrosion -
everything looks clean and bright - but simply "sticktion" between the
parts.  There's a small unthreaded portion of the shock above the
threaded part, but I've not had any success clamping on to this to
prevent the assembly from turning.

Any hints on how this is done?

TIA.
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Tom Young                      tomyoung1@home.com
Lafayette, CA 94549        '81 Vanagon
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