Topic

Does anyone have any ideas as to how to release a top damper bolt short of using a plazma cutter?!!!!

you could try a nut splitter, failing that, drill down thru the nut, then attack with a chisel.

If you or a lovely assistant can get a grip of the damper body to prevent it turning, that usually allows you to exert sufficient torque to loosen it.

Even with an ugly assistant couldn't get it to budge.

Socket on a hammer drill ended up doing the trick!

On two of my shocks, I found the nut rotated without coming undone, even when gripping the outer casing of the shock itself.
A nutsplitter is a good idea although I got a similar and less brutal result with a Dremel and cutting disc(s). A couple of cut slots will weaken the nut's grip enough to break it apart with a stout screw driver. The shock absorber will come out undamaged if you are careful not to cut into it's threads. In my case the shocks were worn out anyway, so I could have been a bit more aggressive with their removal. I replaced with Gaz adjustables.

Jeff

the joys of mgf rust rust and more rust

Rust isn't really an issue over here but then we don't have snow or salted roads to contend with.