Replaced rear shock adsorbers and top mounts on my nearly 12 year old Mazda 2. One had totally gone, leaked all oil and the car was knocking and bouncing around. Prepared myself with the right tools as its an old Mazda, pretty corroded as the underbody protection is virtually nothing from the factory, and the fasteners appear to be made out of a cheese-like material. It was also obvious that somebody had been in there before as one side had different sized bolts on the top mount. The top mounts bolt to the chassis with 2 fasteners inside the top of the wheelarch, going through the chassis into a captive nut. Not a great place for corrosion inside a wheelarch. One of the bolts wouldn't come out, tried a smaller Dewalt impact wrench that wouldn't even look at it. The bigger electric one I have wouldn't either and rounded the bolt head slightly. So thought was totally screwed and would have to go to a garage.
Looked on a search engine and saw some Erbauer bolt and nut removers on screwfix. Had to put the car back together to go and get them. Also had to go to an iron mongers for bolts. These things are amazing, had to use them with a 3/8 to 1/2 adaptor (as there 3/8), pretty big extension and breaker bar, as the bolts are right in the top of the wheel arch. Really satisfying when it made a crack and moved, took loads of effort. They cut into the head whilst turning anti-clockwise. Once removed hard to get bolt out of extractor socket and I'd guess they can only be used so many times. £17 well spent as was totally screwed.
Some great tools about. Not overly impressed with the Dewalt impact wrench I bought. Then again have a feeling was expecting a bit much. It's so small and handy, but wheel nuts etc, have to be cracked off before using it. Great tool though for vastly speeding-up car repairs. Reviews seem to state that it removes suspension bolts. Guessing that the reviewers have newer cars, or cars that aren't as prone to underbody corrosion as mine. There's no way this thing has 220nm of torque as stated, would guess its at least half that.
Will have to take it to bits again as the bump stop is damaged on the side that had the faulty shock. Tried to get some prior but couldn't locally, just needed to fix the thing. Be way easier though this time.
