Shock shafts are delicate and need to be treated that way. Gouges and scratches are your biggest concern as they will not only rough up the smooth stroke, but they can damage your o-rings causing oil leaks and constant maintenance. When removing your shock-end, grasp your shock shaft with authority while avoiding damage. The best tool is a shaft tool available from many manufacturers (such as this one from TLR). If you don’t have one of these, needle nose pliers and a rag will do the trick but be very careful not to slip and scratch. Always hold the shaft low, close to the plastic shock-end as this portion of the shaft doesn’t make contact with the o-rings during compression and rebound; but, it does when removing the shaft from the body altogether so care is still necessary.
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