I'm hoping someone can offer suggestions on my latest driveway difficulty.

I'm putting on reconditioned brake calipers and cleaned up rotors, so I decided that while I was in there I would put new KYB shocks up front. The upper mounting nut on the first shock was a frustration, but with days of penetrating oil, judicious mangling by Vice-Grips and finally a nut splitter, off she came. The other upper nut came off easier.

The real problem is with the lower shock bolts. Nuts come off easily enough, but then the bolt itself is thoroughly fused and become one with the inner sleeve in the lower bracket tube (collet?) of the shock. The first took more than four hours of hammering, heating, cheater bars, etc.; the bolt/bracket sleeve combo spun loose from the shock's rubber bushing, but then could not be forced out through the mounting hole. I can't find a good spot to mount a puller or press. I'd like to skip the burning bushing fumes, slashing about with a utility knife and pounding and skinned knuckles with the second one, if anyone has ideas.

Ed Carroll
87 Weekender