removing rear shock adjusting sleeves
 

Anyone have success at removing a good set of the threaded height adjusting sleeves from a set of rear shocks???? The sleeves and adjusting nuts are in great shape, nuts adjustable by hand after removing the springs, and have been removed. I would like to re-use this good set of the male sleeves - just can't figure out how to get them off the shocks.

ANY tips greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,

Gary Knox

Gary I did it once. I didn't need them so I didn't really care. But yes it worked. Lots of super lube and VERY hard banging did it. Also, of course, the shock body needs to be clean and banging must happen all round. Wait .... lol.

Put the adjusting sleeve on forklift forks, or seesaws, or some how suspend the shock with the threaded sleeve. Then compress the piston to the bottom, and hit it with a hammer.

I personally use a hot propane torch and heat the threaded sleeve pretty good, it normally takes a few good smacks then it comes off with ease.

it takes a LOT of force if they are stuck or corroded.
You may damage the sleeve and end up buying a new one after all.

I just cut the top off the old shock and pressed it out using hydrolic shop press. Used the adjuster nut set on steel plates so the shock tube went down and out. took about two mins.

I've mangled more sets than I've successfully removed, usually just buy a set of used before I start the job. Lots of penetrant, heat, whacks with good sized smashing devices, but again it's hard to get them off intact after they've been sitting there 30 years... good luck.

Took my old shocks (with assemblies on) to local Car Quest machine shop and had them transfer everything over to the new shocks. Wasn't terribly expensive. Dropped them off in the morning and picked them up at lunch. Done!

this is easy ,
first clean the shock body of all the crud then spray some PB blaster into the inner collar and the shock tube,
put the lower shock mount into a vice,
take a torch and heat the aluminum collar for about 30 seconds then tap gently with a hammer,
NOTE this may have to be repeated a few times till it slides off the shock tube.

Warning dont get the shock body so hot that you need a glove on your hand to hold it.
You only want to heat the collar it will slide off easily

If you use heat, wrap the shock with a cold wet rag to help deal with heat build-up.

I hacksawed through the shocker either side of the collar then put the hacksaw through the collar and carefully saw through the shocker body then use a small chisel to help the shocker body out of the collar.

A bit of work, yes.

Some will come off with out much trouble, some can be a real bitch to get off with out damage.
I had two that I had to not only cut the shock, but heat, time and a press would not get them off, I finally ended up welding up the inside of the shock to get them to shrink and it still took about all a 20 ton press wanted to get them off.

Here is a tip, once you get the shock cut about a inch above the adjuster, it will help if you soak them in a 5 gallon bucket of carb cleaner or very strong paint remover over night.

30 ton press with the coller screwed on upside down. heat coller while under pressure. mine came off fairly smoothly.

I have had them come off with a few light plastic hammer hits, it all depends on how much corrosion and dirt is in there, some are easy, some not so much.

I have had a couple that have been a pain, but I have NEVER experienced anything like you are describing Greg.
I hope I never do either, but then again, I have enough spares that if I did, it would not even phase me.

Why did I scan read this as

Used ones might need explosive