I have removed three of the original spiral shocks from my Electra. The passenger front shock is giving me the hardest time. The nut and stud spin together. I have tried heating the nut and using a holding tool. The holding tool allows you you hold the stud while backing the nut off. Unfortunately the top of the stud is rounded off beyond getting a good grip on it. Tried vise grips after that and no progress. Any advice on how to remove the shock in one piece? How many of you have the original spiral shocks and had them rebuilt for your concours car? My thought process is, I may not use them not but in 15 years I may want to have the originals to put back on. I know I could easily take a saw and cut the shock off but then its junk.
My choices are limited to my toolbox- 1 - Airtool (impact gun) or 18v drill and let it rip till it has to turn off -Try forward and reverse (repetitively) to get the inertia going on the "back out". It could slowly break the nut free 2- Dremel tool and slowly nip away at the nut - Try a chisel to peel it away in conjunction with dremel 3- mini oxy acetylene kit and carefully cut away nut 4- Cut it and Ebay new NOS for 400 smackers >>>>>>> A little patience and you will get it. It has to give
I'd keep the shocks for sure. I've looked into the rebuilding process but not enough to know much about it. When I saw the price I backed off but who knows what the future may hold. I'd use a Dremel with a cut-off wheel to cut the nut.
