Installation advise - New Shocks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 87
From: Putnam county NY
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Installation advise - New Shocks
After much back and forth on Koni vs. Bilstein, I ordered new koni shocks for my 72 BB coupe.
Reason: My brother had a set of Koni's for almost 20 years and they still work great.
I was looking for any pointers on the installation, it seems to be straight forward like any other GM chassis that I have done in the past but I'd hate to be caught with something that keps me of the road longer than needed.
Thanks.
Reason: My brother had a set of Koni's for almost 20 years and they still work great.
I was looking for any pointers on the installation, it seems to be straight forward like any other GM chassis that I have done in the past but I'd hate to be caught with something that keps me of the road longer than needed.
Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Front are no brainers. Compress the shocks then put them in. Have a helper keep it compressed if possible so you are not fighting the shock as you do the lower bolts.
Rears - be careful with the shock mount. A bi-otch to get the shock off the mount as the rubber seems to bind. DO NOT Beat with a hammer. New shock mounts are $45 a piece. There is a tool to beat on the shock mount. Most corvette venders sell it. Basically a blind nut that you hit and it save the threads.
Cheers,
Pete
Rears - be careful with the shock mount. A bi-otch to get the shock off the mount as the rubber seems to bind. DO NOT Beat with a hammer. New shock mounts are $45 a piece. There is a tool to beat on the shock mount. Most corvette venders sell it. Basically a blind nut that you hit and it save the threads.
Cheers,
Pete
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
If your shock mounts have not been out in a while (years) it's very likely that the strut rod's inner sleeve is rusted to the shock mount. Look at the drawings in one of the many books - if that sleeve is rusted to the mount there's almost no chance that you get it loose. Penetrating oil does not get where you need it, no matter how long you let it soak 
Excessive beating on the shock mount can damage (crack) the spindle housing, the two "arms" that the shock mount mounts to are not very thick... be careful...
If it doesn't come loose you may want to consider cutting the strut rod end with a Dremel, new strut rods are always a good idea on old cars and they are a lot cheaper than shock mounts or a spindle housing.... just my 2c...
Excessive beating on the shock mount can damage (crack) the spindle housing, the two "arms" that the shock mount mounts to are not very thick... be careful...
If it doesn't come loose you may want to consider cutting the strut rod end with a Dremel, new strut rods are always a good idea on old cars and they are a lot cheaper than shock mounts or a spindle housing.... just my 2c...
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