toolbox help

I have an '05 tacoma with a UWS aluminum toolbox on the bed. The nut on the gas shock that keeps the box lid up on the passenger side has come loose and fell off the backside of the gas shock threaded end. There is very little room to get any kind of tool in the welded bracket that holds the shock to the box. Anyone had to replace their gas shock on this type of box? I'm not sure how to get the nut back up under the bracket and back onto the shock.

 

Bump

 

Will the ball on the shock end rotate. If it will, you might jb weld a small strip to steel to the nut and push it up there and then thread the other side into it. IF you can't get it with your finger.

 

Dremmel out a hole on the side...enough to stick the nut and open end wrench or needle nose in.

 

I like the idea of jb weld to something to push it up in the bracket. The space in the toolbox between the bottom of the bracket and the bottom of the toolbox is very small.

 

The dremel idea sounds easier- I knew I would use my dremel for something one day, now is my chance

 

you do realize those shocks come off the ball studs right? theres a clip then the shock comes off.

 

Yes, I know the stud with the ball will come off the cylinder arm, my problem is getting the nut back behind the bracket to screw the nut back on the stud- very small space - a wrench will not fit in the space

 

Modeling clay on a popsicle stick to hold the nut.
Modeling clay to "tack" a star-washer to the nut.
Get the nut in place and the stud started.

Once the stud is started, pull it away from the box to draw the nut to the side. The star washer will bite into the box and the nut and you'll be able to spin it in finger-tight, then snug it up with a wrench.

I've even used spit to "stick" nuts to holding tools when working horizontally.

 

That's a good idea with the modeling clay, a dot of super glue might do the trick too - thanks

 

How much room from the end of the channel? I have stubby wrenches that will hold a nut in the box end, and a little grease, or clay as mentioned earlier, would hold it enough to get the "stud" started

 

There is about an 1-1/2 inches between the end of the bracket and the toolbox on the lower end, no clearance on upper end and the channel behind the bracket where the nut goes is only slightly wider than nut. Too narrow for any type of wrench. It seems to be a really bad design. I found replacement brackets online and they have the ball stud already bolted to them. I'm guessing it was attached before the bracket was welded to the box when manufactured.

 

Fixed it, glued my nut and lock washer to a piece of flexible metal, stuck it up in the bracket and got it threaded. Thanks for the ideas.