Replacing F45 shocks on my 99 A4 any advice?
11-01-2014, 09:55 AM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Replacing F45 shocks on my 99 A4 any advice?
I am just about to start tearing into my wife's 99 coupe to replace her shocks. I have the 10 ohm 10 watt wire wound resistors. Was looking on here for any tips. I have replaced shocks befor but never on a Vette. Looks like I have to remove the battery 
not looking forward to that as I am sure my A/C blend door is going to act up. Also looks like the coolant tank must be removed. I will get the car up in the air and take a closer look from the underside then check back here to see if there are any replys. Thanks for any and all help 
not looking forward to that as I am sure my A/C blend door is going to act up. Also looks like the coolant tank must be removed. I will get the car up in the air and take a closer look from the underside then check back here to see if there are any replys. Thanks for any and all help
11-01-2014, 10:52 AM
#2
Safety Car
Member Since: Apr 2013
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
Remove the washer tank and the coolant tank is how I did it
Just un-bolt they have enuf hose to move them aside so you have access
Just un-bolt they have enuf hose to move them aside so you have access
Last edited by Smoken1; 11-01-2014 at 10:55 AM.
11-01-2014, 11:20 AM
#3
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
just got the car in the air and the right front tire off. Looks like I can get to everything I need to without having to remove anything in the engine compartment. 
11-01-2014, 12:04 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
just got right front shock off. I am putting on C6 06 shocks for replacements. The new (bought with 6K miles on them from forum member) shocks don't have a bottom washer under the rubber bushing like the F45 and pretty much all other shocks I have ever replaced. The washers from the F45s don't fit the C6 shocks. Does anyone know if this is how it is suppose to be, no bottom washer?
11-01-2014, 12:28 PM
#6
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
Here are all the Torque specs I also bought the special tool at autozone to hold the shock shaft so it can be torqued to specs
11-01-2014, 02:09 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
If they don't come with bottom washers are they required to be used? I already have one shock on and about to put the other on. I don't want to have to take them back off if the washers are required but, if they are not I don't see the point in using them.
11-02-2014, 09:02 PM
#10
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Finally got done with the shock swap at 9:30 last night. I had a few delays unrelated to the work on the car. The job was actually pretty easy. I ended up not using a bottom metal washer under the rubber bushing at the top of the shocks. None came with the shocks and it looks to me like the top of the shock is form fitted for the bushing unlike the F45s I took off. The F45s were totally dead, no rebound once compressed. I am however getting DIC message "service ride control" everytime I start the car. The message clears witht the reset and I am not limited to 80 mph. I'm not sure if this is normal or if there is a problem with one of the connections or a resistor. I did forget to do an ohm check on two of the pigtales after soldering the resistor, prior to instal. Any insight into that would be greatly appreciated. All in all it went very well and I wish I had done it sooner, it rides like a new car now. Thanks to all for the help.