Need a new shock to hold arm up

1. Gently push the pin on the top of the housing, unscrew the black arm, open Clamp B and carefully pull out the blade housing from the bottom.
2. Remove the protective cover from the new blade.
3. Insert the new blade into the housing and the magnet in the housing will hold the new blade in place.
4. Replace and return the blade housing into your machine, Clamp B and the black arm. Tighten the screw close it back into the machine.

up for a tow i would say

ball joint
lower control arm
if RWD upper or lower control arms or shock failure
if FWD shock tower spring

Take skirting down in trunk on the side you are working on. Remove center nut on shock 15MM. Then jack that side up or whole rear of car and place jack stand or jack under control arm. Now you can remove the two 10MM bolts that fasten the bottom of the shock to the control arm, most of the time the speed nuts brake but you can hold on to them with a pair of pliers. Once this is done remove the shock place all hardware on shock and install. The new shock will come with an 18MM center nut. Hope this helps.

This is for the 2WD model:

2-Wheel Drive

1. Raise and support the front of the vehicle safely using jack stands.
   
2. Using an open end wrench, hold the shock absorber upper stem to prevent it from turning, then remove the upper stem retaining nut, the retainer and rubber grommet.
   

Common front shock absorber mounting-2WD vehicles

1. Remove the shock absorber-to-lower control arm retaining bolts and lower the shock absorber assembly from the bottom of the control arm.
   
2. Inspect and test the shock absorber; replace it, if necessary.
   

To install:

1. Fully extend the shock absorber stem, then push it up through the lower control arm and spring so that the upper stem passes through the mounting hole in the upper control arm frame bracket.
   
2. Install the upper shock absorber nut and tighten to 100 inch. lbs. (11 Nm) on 1994 models 145 inch lbs. (16 Nm) on 1995 models, 54 ft. lbs. (73 Nm) on 1996 models, or 106 inch lbs. (12 Nm) on 1997-99 models while holding the stem with an open end wrench. Be careful not to crush the rubber bushing.
   
3. Install the shock absorber-to-lower control arm retaining bolts and tighten to 20 ft. lbs. (27 Nm) on 1994-95 models and 54 ft. lbs. (73 Nm) on 1996 models, or 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm) on 1997-99 models.
   
4. Remove the jack stands and carefully lower the vehicle.
   

check if the drum assembly is loose, but it seems like one of the mounting arms or shocks broke.

try your local parts store napa aadvance etc in the "help" products line they sell a kit that bolts on to replace the mounting stud

the best option is a small puller, but you probably dont have one so...put the nut back on, run it down on the threads just enough for the nut to be all the way on, but no thread protruding from it. Now lightly pry on the bottom of the arm while tapping on the nut with a hammer, the shock should loosen the tapered connection and pop off the arm.

NOTE Hold the shock absorber stem with a wrench while backing the nut off.
Wheel Mounting nut


Retaining nut and grommet Shock absorber-to-lower control arm bolts Shock absorber Replace the parts, as necessary.

Fig. Front shock absorber mounting-2WD vehicles


To install:

1. Fully extend the shock absorber stem, then push it up through thelower control arm and spring so that the upper stem passes through themounting hole in the upper control arm frame bracket.
2. Install or connect the following:
   
   Retaining nut and grommet on the stem. Tighten the nut to 106 inch lbs. (12 Nm).
   
   
   Shock absorber-to-lower control arm bolts and tighten to 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm) Wheel

grip the shaft where it meets the shock with a pair of "vise grips" or a small pipe wrench. use a small wire brush to get the rust off the threads.be carefull not to do this with the new one. the groves on the shaft will ruin the new one. also ive used a cutting torch just keep some water handy...... the rubber tends to catch fire good luck and if you need any more advise please feel free to ask away. ohh by the way check the ball joints on this they have a tendency to go bad. oh i love pb blaster its the best....... newer cars have the aluminum heads and the spark plugs tend to get stuck in the head. spay that on the plug and it frees the plug. ford explorers are the worst good luck

that small arm should be strait its the only way it has any strength. with it being bent it is putting a load on the suppension and that is where your noise is comming from. if you take it in to get the allignment checked it will show up there. just install a new arm and the sup shoud return to its normal position and wont need an allignment.
hope this helps