Gas shocks - install difficulty level
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 439
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From: I am the chick magnet. not the corvette.
Gas shocks - install difficulty level
Ride on the vette isn't as smooth as it should be I believe. I can feel every little bump, and rough roads are causing my car to swerve a bit. I'm thinking this means I need new gas shocks. I'm approaching 117k miles and I'm assuming that the original gas shocks are on there. Any recommendations on what brand to get? I want I nice smooth ride and am not worried about performance. If I can have the best of both worlds, that would be great. I'm thinking KYB Gas shocks all around would be good. Any suggestions?
Also how difficult is the install. From the Haynes Manual, it looks like a simple bolt on procedure.
Also how difficult is the install. From the Haynes Manual, it looks like a simple bolt on procedure.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The KYB Gas-A-Just shocks are a good replacement shock for a smooth ride and also a great value.
While the Haynes manual says it's not a difficult job (and it's really not
), the Haynes manual is best used like the old Sears catalogs in outhouses. 
You can actually R&R the front shocks without jacking the car up or removing the wheels. There are two bolts on the lower control arm and the nut on the top of the shock rod. Remove the two lower bolts and the upper nut and pull the old shock out. You will have to compress the new front shocks to get them in place but it's not too hard to do. Torque the lower bolts to 22 ft-lbs and tighten the upper nut until the top rubber bushing begins to swell to the edge of the steel retainer.
You will have to remove the rear wheels to get to the rear shocks but the removal is straightforward. When you install the new shock, the lower nut has to be torqued with the suspension at ride height. You can simply raise the knuckle with a floor jack and tighten the nut to spec.
While the Haynes manual says it's not a difficult job (and it's really not
), the Haynes manual is best used like the old Sears catalogs in outhouses. You can actually R&R the front shocks without jacking the car up or removing the wheels. There are two bolts on the lower control arm and the nut on the top of the shock rod. Remove the two lower bolts and the upper nut and pull the old shock out. You will have to compress the new front shocks to get them in place but it's not too hard to do. Torque the lower bolts to 22 ft-lbs and tighten the upper nut until the top rubber bushing begins to swell to the edge of the steel retainer.
You will have to remove the rear wheels to get to the rear shocks but the removal is straightforward. When you install the new shock, the lower nut has to be torqued with the suspension at ride height. You can simply raise the knuckle with a floor jack and tighten the nut to spec.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Its a vette, not a caddy,,, LOL... yea the millage is up there if they are origional shocks... Shock replacement is not a hard process... just use good safety measures, jackstands, etc... use PBlaster for the nuts, just soak overnite.... torque to specs....and if your going to continue to wrench, get the FSM for your vette, best investment, and use the haynes for a good door stop
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 7,033
Likes: 12
I'd buy the cheapest shocks I could find, you won't notice the difference. On a scale of 1-10 I would rate the shock change a 1.
Passenger side sparks plugs rate a 4. That would be plug 6 and 8 unless you have small circus hands. Then probably only a 2.5.
Passenger side sparks plugs rate a 4. That would be plug 6 and 8 unless you have small circus hands. Then probably only a 2.5.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,725
Likes: 709
From: Bergen County, NJ
I'm assuming that the original gas shocks are on there. Any recommendations on what brand to get? I want I nice smooth ride and am not worried about performance. If I can have the best of both worlds, that would be great. I'm thinking KYB Gas shocks all around would be good. Any suggestions?
Also how difficult is the install. From the Haynes Manual, it looks like a simple bolt on procedure.
Also how difficult is the install. From the Haynes Manual, it looks like a simple bolt on procedure.
Here's a few pics from my '88 Helms manual, I used this as a guide.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...te/Shocks2.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...te/Shocks1.jpg
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
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From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
It will go a lot faster if you remove the wheels one at a time and put them back. Also get one of those sockets to fit the top of the front shock rod. Squirt WD on everything the night before. KYB's will be fine if you are not trying to keep the car original. Try www.ajusa.com or www.shockwarehouse.com
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 3
From: Newark, New Jersey
It will go a lot faster if you remove the wheels one at a time and put them back. Also get one of those sockets to fit the top of the front shock rod. Squirt WD on everything the night before. KYB's will be fine if you are not trying to keep the car original. Try www.ajusa.com or www.shockwarehouse.com
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 439
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From: I am the chick magnet. not the corvette.
That's funny you mentioned this, because I just changed the plugs yesterday, and to get to 6 and 8 I had to remove the wheel and fender well covers, and other circus acts to get those in. #4 was giving me problems as well. I finally got done about a thousand curse words later. Was my first time so the second time around should be smooth sailing.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: I am the chick magnet. not the corvette.
Its a vette, not a caddy,,, LOL... yea the millage is up there if they are origional shocks... Shock replacement is not a hard process... just use good safety measures, jackstands, etc... use PBlaster for the nuts, just soak overnite.... torque to specs....and if your going to continue to wrench, get the FSM for your vette, best investment, and use the haynes for a good door stop
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
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From: San Pedro CA
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 638
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From: Plano TX
That's funny you mentioned this, because I just changed the plugs yesterday, and to get to 6 and 8 I had to remove the wheel and fender well covers, and other circus acts to get those in. #4 was giving me problems as well. I finally got done about a thousand curse words later. Was my first time so the second time around should be smooth sailing.
But, I also have had this car apart about 6 times in the past 2 months.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 169
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From: Lewis Center OH
Well myself and my father and law tried this over the weekend. Bad luck I tell ya. Couldn't get the drivers side front center cap off. Then we couldn't get the lug nuts loosened. Took to a shop and they loosened the lug nuts and we got the front passeneger shock on with out too much trouble. We then attempted the rear shock and couldn't get the damn bolt on the lower shock arm removed. After 3 hours with all the trips etc and we only got one shock on, we gave up. I had it scheduled to have an alignment and the tires balanced, so I'm just going to have them install them. I really wanted to do this myself, but just became a hassle. Oh well better luck next project for me.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,725
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From: Bergen County, NJ
Well myself and my father and law tried this over the weekend. Bad luck I tell ya. Couldn't get the drivers side front center cap off. Then we couldn't get the lug nuts loosened. Took to a shop and they loosened the lug nuts and we got the front passeneger shock on with out too much trouble. We then attempted the rear shock and couldn't get the damn bolt on the lower shock arm removed.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 169
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From: Lewis Center OH
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.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,725
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From: Bergen County, NJ
When I got my C6, I couldn't believe it was more difficult than my C4 to place jack stands under.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 638
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From: Plano TX
I'm able to successfully and safely jack the car up from the center of the vehicle on both sides of the car. This allows me to easily stick the jack stands on the frame near the rear (just in front of the tire) and in nearly the same location on the front end.
Also, if you need more torque on your breaker bar, grab a 3 foot piece of pipe and use it as a cheater bar. PB blaster soaking might help too.
Also, if you need more torque on your breaker bar, grab a 3 foot piece of pipe and use it as a cheater bar. PB blaster soaking might help too.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 95
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From: belmont maine
shock recommendations
Hi, is there a major quality difference between KYB Gas-A-Just and the basic AC Delco? All things being equal which is better (subjective, of course). Thanks, Larry; for a '92, used for regular driving.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 383
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From: Pembroke Pines Florida
I installed the KYB's on my '93 w/55K miles. It took me longer to jack the car up and then put it back on the ground than it did to replace the shocks.
I bought Rustoleum Hard Hat Yellow spray paint and painted the KYB's with it. Looks just like the O.E. shocks. Minus the labels of course.
Made a difference in the Soft Ride suspension.
I bought Rustoleum Hard Hat Yellow spray paint and painted the KYB's with it. Looks just like the O.E. shocks. Minus the labels of course.
Made a difference in the Soft Ride suspension.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
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From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas