Lower shock mount questions

[bd2988]

Hello all, I have a few questions about the lower shock mount, which recently broke on my girlfriends 97 Ranger. Is the mount riveted in? Is it welded? If so, which side is it welded/riveted in? Would it even be possible to punch it through the radius arm? Also, which side would be best to punch it through? Would I have to grind the rivet/weld off before attempting to punch it out? If drilling is necessary (would much rather just use my BFH and a punch to get it out), would I be able to drill it out with a 5/8" drill bit? I already bought the shock mount kit (Dorman 31001). I just thought I would get some insight on here to be sure before I did anything (don't want to damage the radius arm). Oh yeah, I live in Michigan btw (salt roads).

 

[ati190]

It's welded from the inside. I had this issue one time. Easy fix. Get a grade 8 bolt or the mount kit you got, grind the old one flush with the arm. Right where the old one was, use a 5/8 drill bit, and drill through. Put the new bolt through. I used red-locktite instead of welding incase i ever needed to change the bolt again. Just preference. Never had a problem, and neither does it's current owner. I was going to replace the radius arm as a 2wd one is about 50$ new. Never got around to it.

ati190

 

[Slim]

It's welded from the inside. I had this issue one time. Easy fix. Get a grade 8 bolt or the mount kit you got, grind the old one flush with the arm. Right where the old one was, use a 5/8 drill bit, and drill through. Put the new bolt through. I used red-locktite instead of welding incase i ever needed to change the bolt again. Just preference. Never had a problem, and neither does it's current owner. I was going to replace the radius arm as a 2wd one is about 50$ new. Never got around to it.

ati190

I did the same with mine earlier this year, with one minor difference - rather than a conventional bolt that was completely threaded, I used a shoulder bolt, which has a short length of thread on the end with the rest of the length being a 5/8" diameter. Helps prevent the bushings in the shock being chewed by the threads (because there obviously aren't any).

I opted to do both sides since I had all the tools and such. I was kinda ..... shocked ..... at how easy it was to drill through the old broken bolt.


Here's a link to TRS's Tech Library article on this seemingly common issue ..... http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Fall2003/Broken_Lower_shock_mount_on_Radius_Arms.htm

 

[Tractor Dan]

The drill bit works, or what we done when mine broke doing my lift we just took a cutting torch to it. I will say if i didn't have my friends dad doing it i probably wouldn't have, he is skilled with a torch. Anywho, we just kept taking a bit off and finally got it hot enough to take a punch and mini sledge and from the backside of it knock the mount out. Then all we done was wallered the hole out with the punch, sprayed some rust inhibitor(Ohio roads here buddy, i feel your pain), and put the new mount in. So that's another option for you, if you drill it have some cutting oil or something to keep the bit cool. Anywho, good luck to you and thought i would give you another possible route.

Dan