Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Is there any magic involved in removal of the fifth shock on the '48 Custom. This is the one with the side ball-stud mount on the driver side like the '47 (not the '48 onward). I've removed the nut and the lock washer behind the mount bracket on the axle housing and reinstalled the nut without the washer flush with the stud. It's been soaked in Kroil for a couple days and I've inserted a porta-power hydraulic jaws from stud to housing and hammered on the boss (vibration) and used a pry bar simultaneously with all the force I can apply with the porta-power (all my weight on it) and it hasn't broke free. Am I correct in assuming this is some sort of tapered fit that's welded itself together rather than a straight stud?

Don't remember any issues with removing my 47 shock but there may be enough difference in 48 attachment that others would be better informed. Like reluctant brake drum hubs, one possibility might be to use a propane torch to gently heat the shock end and see if expansion would help along with some persuasion.

Well, posting the query seems to have done the trick... along with a bigger pry bar. I was concerned about damaging the stud to bar connection which appears to be a ball and socket joint and not a beefy one. By Packard standards it looks possibly rather fragile. I was afraid I'd break it off. Well, a long pry bar with all the force of the hydraulic ram and beating on it finally broke it free. It does look like a tapered fit but after 75 years it was no longer just "fit", but had become one.

The odd thing is there's really no need for a tapered fit joint. A straight stud would have worked just fine but leave it to Packard to over-engineer things.