I have a newby shock question. I've been getting fairly educated on the forum and have had great luck with all the projects so, here I am again seeking tutelage.

First, I'm not a mechanic but, I am mechanically inclined and relatively skilled with mechanical things once I learn. I've decided to replace the shocks and start with the easier (or so I've learned) front shocks.

First, can they really be replaced without even jacking up the vehicle? If so, is the removal and installation as straight forward as it appears when I look at them?

Second, when looking at Ecklers they have Bilstein fronts for Z51 suspension and others without Z51 suspension...here's where you guys get frustrated with the newby mechanic...how do I know which ones I need and what is the difference. Could I get either one? I don't think I have Z51 suspension, but I really have no idea for certain. Can I tell by looking at the shocks on my car?

Thanks in advance for any information you guys pass along and also thanks for the patience. Any other tricks or information to help the process go smoother would be much appreciated as well.

I just love working on this thing. Each thing I do leads to another and she gets better with every project, so far anyway. Most projects came from reading posts on here, realizing they needed to be done, and gaining the knowledge to carry them out. Thanks a ton everyone for fueling this enjoyable addiction.

 

sorry...it's a 95 vert...forgot that part.

 

I believe that in '95 the SPID label was moved back to the storage compartment behind the seats. It was either '95 or '96 - sometimes that confuses me and maybe it did the "line workers" at BG too. It's either there or still on the back-side of the console door. That will ID all of the options on the car as built. If for some reason the SPID label is missing you can take the VIN to a GM parts counter and they'll print you an options list (SPID) label.

There was a TSB released in Dec '95 but it mentions '95 & '96 Chevrolet cars NOT just '96.

The Bilstein package can be sometimes priced very competitively from several vendors. I don't believe it could be said that anyone has the "best price" all of the time. Service from any vendor is sketchy. I'd make sure I confirmed before paying if they were "in stock" or when they would be delivered.

How many miles?

 

[QUOTE=ATEEZ;1589762935]I have a newby shock question. I've been getting fairly educated on the forum and have had great luck with all the projects so, here I am again seeking tutelage.



First, can they really be replaced without even jacking up the vehicle?
NO
If so, is the removal and installation as straight forward as it appears when I look at them?
YES

Second, when looking at Ecklers they have Bilstein fronts for Z51 suspension and others without Z51 suspension...here's where you guys get frustrated with the newby mechanic...how do I know which ones I need and what is the difference. Could I get either one?
YES, both are direct fit.
I don't think I have Z51 suspension, but I really have no idea for certain. Can I tell by looking at the shocks on my car?
NO, Look for the RPO codes, compartment behind passenger seat.


QUOTE]

 

[QUOTE=aminnich;1589765405]Thank you. I thought the not jacking the car up thing seemed way off.

Do you happen to know what RPO codes to look for for non-Z51 and Z51 suspension?

Thanks again for the help and info...

 

This is a fairly complete list of C4 RPO's - there are of course others authored by others (some know/some don't). This one is as error free as I recall seeing and don't mind passing on.

http://www.lbfun.com/warehouse/tech_...PO%20Codes.pdf

There will also be one in your FSM - Try something near 0A-11 or 12 for a '92. Near the front in "introduction".

 

Thank you very much...I do not have Z51 suspension so I've ordered the standard bilstein shocks...or the non HD. As always, thanks to the forum Im ordering parts informed and loiking forward to another project.