Changing Shocks
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 238
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From: Tee Tops off all year FL
Changing Shocks
Looks straight forward. Is there anything special I should know? For the rears, Haynes manual says the tires should not be hanging free. Guess this means jacked up so weight is off but tires still on the ground?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,201
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From: Clifton Park NY
Re: Changing Shocks (Dk Met Grn 80 L82)
For the rear shocks, you should jack up the rear, remove the wheels, and then jack up the trailing arms a bit to relieve tension. The front can be done with the wheels on.
-Pedro
-Pedro
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Re: Changing Shocks (Dk Met Grn 80 L82)
Take it for what it's worth to ya...but everytime I jack up the car with jackstands to work under her, I put 8"X8" landscape timber blocks under the tires or rotors. Keeps the suspension from "hanging" when applicable. I cut the blocks at 16" long, so they can stand on end and hold up the rotors when the tire is off, and I lay them flat when the tires are on. Works for me!!!!
Eddie
Eddie
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
Re: Changing Shocks (Silvr77)
You may find for the rear shocks that the top mounting holes do not line up evenly with the shock bushing. The bolt will go through unevenly and you will have to force the angle of the bolt to make the 2 bracket holes.
I did this with some new shocks last week. The trick is to take a short socket and a very long 1/2 inch extension and use this on the bolt head to force the angle of the bolt to line up with the second bracket hole.
Do this with the bottom of the shock hanging free so you also have room to move it around. Once the top bolt is installed, you just force the bottom around and onto the lower mount. The bottom bushing has a much larger hole in it than the top bushing.
fun stuff...
Brent...
I did this with some new shocks last week. The trick is to take a short socket and a very long 1/2 inch extension and use this on the bolt head to force the angle of the bolt to line up with the second bracket hole.
Do this with the bottom of the shock hanging free so you also have room to move it around. Once the top bolt is installed, you just force the bottom around and onto the lower mount. The bottom bushing has a much larger hole in it than the top bushing.
fun stuff...
Brent...
