I also have changed shocks on many many vehicles.  The nut will twist for
just about every shock newbie.  There is a space at the top of the bolt/stud
to apply a wrench to keep the shaft from turning while you turn the nut.
This of course means you cannot use a socket and have to use a box or open
end wrench. Only a couple times have I used a nut cracker or other tool on
the nut.  Once on a jetta I used a vice grips on the shaft and hit the nut
with the impact. As for plastic covers, I have rarely run into them unless
the shocks were still factory.  Was actually surprised to find them on my
front vanagon shocks.
jimt

On 10/2/05 3:14 PM, "Rob" <becida@COMCAST.NET> wrote:

> At  10/2/2005 01:50 PM, Raimund Feussner wrote:
>> If you want to replace the shock, use the hacksaw.
>> Usually, the nut on the shock is covered by a plastic cover, preventing
>> it from rusting. But on most of the Vanagons, the cover is missing and
>> causes the nut to rust tight. Bad engineering (again)...
>>
>> Raimund
>
> When I worked at the front end shop I changed a lot of shocks, the
> spinning nut is the usual. I'd guess that mean everyone has this "bad
> engineering" problem.
> FWIW an impact sometimes did the trick and other times we just cut it.
>
>
>
> Rob
> becida@comcast.net
>
>