Removing Front Shocks

Odoyle · Post by **Odoyle** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:51 pm

I'm trying to remove the front KYB shocks that the PO put in and replace them with fresh KYBs and I'm encounting some trouble. Iv removed the disc brake assembly to where just the spindle, ball joints, upper and lower arms, spring, and shocks are left. Iv disconnected the shocks from the lower control arm and have put a jack under one of the springs to compress it. I'm using a large adjustable wrench to try to unsrew the upper portion of the shock but I feel like iv been spinning the thing for ages and can't tell if it's actually loosening. I am going lefty loosey and I know I'm not just spinning the bottom of the shock. Any feedback would be appreciated.

4uall · Post by **4uall** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:19 pm

This might help

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 1&start=15

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 3:12 pm

shocks have a flat at the top of the thread. You can hold the shock there so you can loosen it.

Odoyle · Post by **Odoyle** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 3:36 pm

Re: Removing Front Shocks
Post by azruss on Thu Jan 15, 2015 12:12 pm

shocks have a flat at the top of the thread. You can hold the shock there so you can loosen it.

Can u elaborate

baltobernie · Post by **baltobernie** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 4:09 pm

Not a great photo, but illustrative. Engage top nut with box wrench. Grasp the flat top of the shaft with Vise Grips, and loosen top nut.

Odoyle · Post by **Odoyle** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 7:44 pm

Baltobernie, thank you your photo was very helpful. I'm not sure what year your 124 is but it looks like Fiat was feeling nice that year because the shock mounts in my 83' Pininfarina are brutally hard to get to, spent a good part of my afternoon removing a single shock on the front right corner of the car. Tomorrow I will remove the front left shock and by the looks of it, it will be just as difficult if not harder. Anyone else encounter this on their 2000cc 124's?

4uall · Post by **4uall** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 9:05 pm

some more advice is to use a u joint to get to the hard to reach area (top nut) and some locked pliers to prevent the shock from turning

vandor · Post by **vandor** » Fri Jan 16, 2015 12:21 am

I found the use of a gear-wrench made things a lot easier.

124JOE · Post by **124JOE** » Fri Jan 16, 2015 1:20 pm

jay I hope that's not Fiona
I see a bushing that is looking quite crappy

DieselSpider · Post by **DieselSpider** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 12:06 am

124JOE wrote:jay I hope that's not Fiona
I see a bushing that is looking quite crappy

I was trying to not say anything but a silent "boy am I happy I don't live in the road salt belt anymore".

Keep forgetting how brutal that stuff is on your vehicles.

I will confess that there were times that in frustration over a salt galled shock I have put a deep 1/2" drive impact socket on a long extension and just busted the top stud off prying it side to side.

4uall · Post by **4uall** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 12:26 am

all taken care of years ago

by the looks of it when I got her, she had been neglected. no winter driving since

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php ... hilit=fall

124JOE · Post by **124JOE** » Sun Jan 18, 2015 4:14 pm

ya mine also.NO SALT
its covered and stored in my garage

moss1972 · Post by **moss1972** » Fri May 15, 2020 8:13 am

4uall wrote:some more advice is to use a u joint to get to the hard to reach area (top nut) and some locked pliers to prevent the shock from turning

To this guy...THANK YOU! 4uall, I used this technique on my Jeep by vice-gripping the piston shaft, but could not get access to that shaft on the Fiat. Your image of the vice grips on the shock tube saved my arse. I didn't think the shock tube would halt rotation.

The use of the vice grips on the shock tube as well as a 9/16" (14mm) ratcheting closed end wrench and the fronts were off in 12 minutes.

jon8christine · Post by **jon8christine** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 9:34 pm

The shocks are easy compared to the springs. Just upgraded to 15"wheels and lowering springs. Had to disconnect the top A arm at the frame and give the brake line some freedom by removing the clip in addition to compressing the spring.