Gas shocks - install difficulty level
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: I am the chick magnet. not the corvette.
Yes, we had a breaker bar, but just didn't seem to have enough clearance between the bottom of the shock and the floor to get enough torque. Could be we just didn't have it the car jacked up high enough. My FIL seemed real uneasy jacking the car up. We jacked it up using the jack points, but he kept saying it just didn't seem a good place to jack the car up. I asked several questions here on the forum before we started. If I had all the tools I needed, I might try the rest myself, but I just want to get it done at this point.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Lewis Center OH
For the front shocks you will need a special shock socket to hold the shock piston as you loosen the top nut. We didn't have one, so a pair of vise grips did the job. We just held the shock piston with the vise grips as we untightened the nut. When it's time to tighten the nut at the top of the front shock, we used a hex socket to fit into the top of the shock piston and tightened the nut. The back shock we weren't able to get the nut loosened on the bottom of the shock. The idea of using a pipe for more leverage over the breaker bar probably would have helped. I would say it's not a complicated job, but we just kept running into one thing after another. Make sure you have either jack stands and floor jack or two floor jacks. Also suggest spraying every nut bolt etc a few days prior to replacement to help loosen things. Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,263
Likes: 414
From: Muskogee OK
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
From: Plano TX
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: I am the chick magnet. not the corvette.
For the front shocks you will need a special shock socket to hold the shock piston as you loosen the top nut. We didn't have one, so a pair of vise grips did the job. We just held the shock piston with the vise grips as we untightened the nut. When it's time to tighten the nut at the top of the front shock, we used a hex socket to fit into the top of the shock piston and tightened the nut. The back shock we weren't able to get the nut loosened on the bottom of the shock. The idea of using a pipe for more leverage over the breaker bar probably would have helped. I would say it's not a complicated job, but we just kept running into one thing after another. Make sure you have either jack stands and floor jack or two floor jacks. Also suggest spraying every nut bolt etc a few days prior to replacement to help loosen things. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: I am the chick magnet. not the corvette.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood CA
7th Gear
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Lemoyne Pennsylvania
Haven't gotten any response over HERE yet and I need a timely response so I figured I'd resurrect this thread to ask.
I just ordered KYBs for my 84. Can the KYBs handle the higher spring rates? Does anyone have any personal experience with them on that model year? Will they wear out quickly?
Also, are there any other bushings I should order to go with the shock installation?
Thanks.
I just ordered KYBs for my 84. Can the KYBs handle the higher spring rates? Does anyone have any personal experience with them on that model year? Will they wear out quickly?
Also, are there any other bushings I should order to go with the shock installation?
Thanks.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
