Seized rear shock with spring under compression

[brianw]

My Wife gave me a call from work to say there was something wrong with her suspension.
When I got there I saw the car was low on the rear nearside.
So low I could not get the trolley jack under the sill!
I raised the car with the cars scissor jack and as soon as it started lifting the wheel lifted off the ground.
I concluded that the shock had seized.
The top of the tyre is above the rim of the wheel arch so the spring is under quite a bit of compression.
I do have a heavy duty spring compressor, the twin yoke and single point nut to wind type, but have serious doubts as to being able to position it.
If i just undid the bolt at the bottom of the shock the spring would de -compress pretty suddenly.
If i did it with the wheel on the ground the body would obviously be the part to be "shot up"
Is thete anyone who has encountered in this situation and/or has any suggestions as to the best way to proceed?

[Popcorn]

I'm not suggesting that you do this, but been pondering this for an hour, if some way of clamping or tying up of the spring is not possible I would see if i could get under the car with the wheel on the ground and whip the bottom shock bolt out with an air gun or torque gun because the car will go up. Other wise try and Jack the hub/radius arm down somehow ie block of wood and bottle Jack to extend the shock.

[brianw]

I like your idea of trying to jack the arms apart somehow.
It all depends on access. It was dark when I was looking tonight. I also considered undoing the two top nuts on the shock in the boot and letting the car "ping up"
At least that way i should avoid what can be a struggle pulling out the shock from underneath when the rubber cap seems to stick.
It would be best if i could somehow extend the spring first though. I suppose it depends on how seized the shock absorber is.

[Popcorn]

I suggested the bottom bolt because it's one fixing, the top as you say has two and only being 6/8mm thread with the spring tension would probably fly off after being partially undone

[brianw]

Originally Posted by Popcorn

I suggested the bottom bolt because it's one fixing, the top as you say has two and only being 6/8mm thread with the spring tension would probably fly off after being partially undone

Plus I could be bounced out of the boot into orbit!

[Arctic]

HI Brian.
Long time no speak or see first in the light of day jack the car up either by the jacking point, or at the rear jacking point in the middle using the tow hook.

Remove the wheel then go from there, the spring should pull down the seized shock, with the wheel off you could maybe get a second jack or trolley jack on the arm and take the tension of the spring.

Then remove the bolt from the bottom of the shocker.

HNY by the way

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[Briodyjl01]

I had the same thing today.


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[Briodyjl01]

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