96 9c1 Rear Shocks.

I have a 96 caprice 9c1. 154k. I don't know if the shocks have ever been replaced, I got the bottom nut and bolt off one side and the shock will stay wherever I put it. I have a set of gabriel air shocks, but I can't get at one of the nuts on top of each of the shocks. I've checked other posts and everyone says the rears are easy. What am I missing?? I'm 23 so I don't have allot of experience, but I've helped my dad on cars as long as I can remember and have done plenty on my own cars, friends cars, wife's cars. I know some nuts and bolts are hard to get at and will almost guarantee busted knuckles and bleeding fingers, but I'm stumped.

Thanks, Dustin

the tops of the rear shocks are held on by two bolts that bolt to the frame. i think there is a nut on top of the frame (im not sure about this though, i may be wrong) if you havent secured the nut on top, when you try to unscrew the bolt, the nut will simply spin around and not unscrew.

Thats the problem, I can get to the nut on top of the frame towards the middle of the car, but I can't get a wrench or socket and ratchet on the nut towards the outside of the car. I can get a 13mm socket on, but there isn't enough room for the head of the ratchet. If I could get a 1/4 drive 13 then that ratchet would probably fit, but I can only find 1/4 drives up to 12mm. I haven't messed with it in a few weeks, I'll try again and see if I can figure out what I'm missing. I don't have one, but I think I'll try and find a 3/8 breaker bar, I hadn't thought of that before.
Thank you very much. Dustin

Thats the problem, I can get to the nut on top of the frame towards the middle of the car, but I can't get a wrench or socket and ratchet on the nut towards the outside of the car. I can get a 13mm socket on, but there isn't enough room for the head of the ratchet. If I could get a 1/4 drive 13 then that ratchet would probably fit, but I can only find 1/4 drives up to 12mm. I haven't messed with it in a few weeks, I'll try again and see if I can figure out what I'm missing. I don't have one, but I think I'll try and find a 3/8 breaker bar, I hadn't thought of that before.
Thank you very much. Dustin


do you have any of those ratchets that swivel at the top? One of those might fit.

Dont know the technical name of the ratchet lol.

is there not a hole in the trunk to get to those bolts, i know most cars with that problem do

You should be able to get a box end wrench on the nut. I've had lots of B & C body cars and have never seen any access from the trunk.