help!! with shocks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 156
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From: Monroe County Michigan
help!! with shocks
How do you keep the shock shaft from turning when tightening the nut on top on the front shocks? The old shocks had a flat space at the top of the shaft to grab with vice grips. New ones don't have that...
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 180
Likes: 12
From: Ramsey Minnesota
I just installed new shocks this morning and these had the flats at the top of the threads, as did the old ones. That wasn't enough bite for me to get the old ones off so I vise-gripped them just below the rubber mounts and just above the shock body - but that's not a great idea when installing the new shocks I realize. Maybe with an assistant you can hold the shock body enough to get the nut tight. It only has to go far enough to compress the rubber mounts until they're as large as the washers are. In my case they bottomed out on the threads right about then.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Monroe County Michigan
never mind
The rear shocks have an Allen wrench fitting in the top of the rod...I couldn't see it in fronts ...took it to local ace hardware to get regular nuts(instead of nylocks and the kid working there could see them...just needed metric Allen wrench!! 5mm. Passenger side done except I'm in there degreasing and cleaning up while I got it exposed.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Monroe County Michigan
Got both front shocks done yesterday. Spent close to 12 hrs with cleaning grunge off suspension and the backside of my wheels. Loaned out my pressure washer last weekend so had to scrub by hand with brush and degreaser and wheel cleaner. What a mess. Will post a couple of pics in general forum. Tried to get rear shocks loose but was not comfortable laying on floor with car on jackstands and jerking on wrench. Gonna take em somewhere and have em installed. 
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Northern California
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 702
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From: Middletown Delaware
Got both front shocks done yesterday. Spent close to 12 hrs with cleaning grunge off suspension and the backside of my wheels. Loaned out my pressure washer last weekend so had to scrub by hand with brush and degreaser and wheel cleaner. What a mess. Will post a couple of pics in general forum. Tried to get rear shocks loose but was not comfortable laying on floor with car on jackstands and jerking on wrench. Gonna take em somewhere and have em installed.
Curious because I am about to purchase a set of new Bilsteins. Thanks
