Any advice? It just wants to spin.

 

Do you see how the end of the shock's shaft has two flat sides? Yes? Good. Worst case, you put the shock (upside down) in a vice and then put the 17mm wrench on the nut.

And you do have spring compressors already on there, right? If not, it will shoot up and slam the vice, so watch your fingers.

Note: if you're actually talking about one of the two nuts that holds the upper mount to the chassis, then the bolt has stripped in the mount and you'll have to cut it.

 

It's the center nut. Too bad I don't have a vise

 

A quality vise-grip can also work, but don't mess this up using the wrong tool. If you round off the end of shock's shaft, you're in for some serious fun.

Oh, and if you don't have spring compressors on there, do so. Eliminating the load from the spring will make it easier to loosen the nut.

 

I have the compressors on and the fronts were very easy but both rears are just locked on even after an hour of lots of pb blaster. Just have to find a vise tomorrow...

 

Impact gun .

 

^^^

 

What if he doesn't want to score a ring-ridge inside the damper?

The answer isn't always a bigger hammer, people.

 

Took them to my local Les Schwab tire shop and they loosened them for free. Yay Les Schwab!