[Mel48LCC]

I am trying to remove front shock absorbers on a 1948 Lincoln Continental. A socket will not fit on the nuts. An open end wrench will fit but will not turn the nuts. Soaking them with penetrating oil now. Anyone know a trick to getting them loose?

[imported_Phil Knapp]

Repeated soaking with penetrating oil or WD-40 for a couple of days might do the trick. Then try tightening, then loosening the nuts. Don't just try loosening. I've sometimes had luck by tightening first, then loosening.

If a socket wrench won't fit, perhaps a box or a flare-nut wrench will. An open-end wrench is probably the worst tool to use on rusted bolts (after vise-grips) because they slip very easily and round off the points so no wrench will ever work.

If you have an acetelyne torch, a little heat can sometimes break up the rust. (Be careful not to set the car on fire!!) Failing that, you might have to cut the nut using a cold chisel, or just blow it away with the cutting torch as a last resort.

Mel, The bolts that hold all 4 shocks in place require an Allen wrench to remove them. I think they are 1/2 " or 7/16" in size. You will probably need a pipe extention to get the leverage to turn them, but soaking and/or heat will also help. The bolts also have sheetmetal tabs that help to lock the bolt from turning loose.
Bill

Oops. Only the front two shocks use the Allen head bolts and the size is 3/8
Bill