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+2 Rear Shocks - Part Deux

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:10 am
by Hegg
Alright, so I'm now to this point:

Image

This is the side where the castle nut appears to have simply sheared off the shock. Crazy stuff can happen to a 35 year old car I suppose.

Anyway, so now what? How do I get the silver collar off? Just clamp with giant pliers and screw? I'm afraid of denting it so I can't get it back on.

Am I being too paranoid?

Thanks!

Oh, and P.S... What does anyone recommend for drive shaft replacement? I've been looking at getting a CV joint system from Clive (a very helpful bloke :)) at Paul Matty to replace the black doughnut system. I'm concerned about the doughnuts breaking on me someday and tearing things apart. I'm not a racer, so I don't need the best-of-the-best, but I'd like something good quality that will give me peace of mind. Any suggestions?

Re: +2 Rear Shocks - Part Deux

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:36 am
by john.p.clegg
Looks to me like a home-made top collar,and if that is the case it should screw off???

John

Re: +2 Rear Shocks - Part Deux

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:45 am
by gjz30075
Yes, the silver collar looks like it should just screw off (I've been doing that for years :lol: ) but the threads on the strut are inside the tube so I'd be curious as to how this silver collar is made. Just get a large channel locks and start turning.

Either way, the new shocks will come with the necessary screw down nut, if you will, so don't worry about buggering up this one.

I wouldn't be surprised if you come back to us in a week or so, saying you're going to need a new strut tube. That silver thing may have buggered things up. Good luck.

Greg

Re: +2 Rear Shocks - Part Deux

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 12:40 pm
by tdafforn
Hi,
I had the same thing on my +2 (also 30 year old shocks!). The aluminium part you can see in the picture is a "hat" that sits on the top of the shock and (i think) helps to reduce the travel of the shock. I can be removed by tapping it upwards from the bottom using a hammer and screwdriver. Underneath there will be the shock top nut. If you still have the original shock mechanism (which uses the shock tube as the outer wall of the shock itself) give the nut a good soaking in penetrating oil and stand it upside down so that the oil inside will penetrate the threads. Then you will need the same hammer and screwdriver to slowly push the slotted top of the shock around to undo the top nut..
The key is to take it slow, if you destroy the slots in the top nut everything becomes 10X harder!
Cheers
tim

Re: +2 Rear Shocks - Part Deux

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 2:01 pm
by Hegg
Thanks everyone! I wish I had as much vast experience that I could be a better contributor to the forum.

I'll keep ya posted (and probably ask more questions).

Hegg

Re: +2 Rear Shocks - Part Deux

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 3:09 pm
by Hegg
Woo hoo! Got one done!

3 to go...

It actually wasn't so bad. Not easy, but not bad.

Re: +2 Rear Shocks - Part Deux

PostPosted: Sat May 07, 2005 11:23 pm
by Hegg
Thanks for everyone's help on shock replacement! I just got back from my first drive. Feels so good to drive an Elan again...

It's really a new car now. 4 new Konis and a solid driveshaft replacement made quite a difference.

Thanks again!