shock instal help please?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
here are two links that I have previously seen posted here on the forum....I think they were contributed by JEEP/C5
http://www.c5forum.com/diy/shocks.php
http://fuzzydiceracing.com/test.htm
http://www.c5forum.com/diy/shocks.php
http://fuzzydiceracing.com/test.htm
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 146
Likes: 13
From: San Jose CA
It's really pretty straight forward. I just did an install of four Bilstein Sport shocks over the weekend. If you've ever replaced shocks on any car, these are pretty much the same.
The one piece of advice I have is you'll want to compress the shocks and hold them in a compressed state while you maneuver them out of/into place. I've seen this done with zip-ties, but a 2-3' length of rope will work just fine. Tie a loop in one end, and leave the other end free. Once you've removed the mounthng bolts, loop the free end of the rope around the top section of the shock, leaving the looped end about 4-5" shorter than the extended shock. Then, compress the shock by hand, and slip the loop over the lower end of the shock. Once compressed you can maneuver them out without disturbing the rest of the suspension.
I believe the GM service manual suggests removing a tie rod in order to get the rear shock out, but once it's compressed, you can get it out without any trouble.
Installation is the reverse, make sure you tie them up compressed when you go to insert them, or you won't have room.
I replaced my shocks, brake rotors and installed braided stainless brake lines over the weekend in about 4.5 hrs - including bleeding all 4 calipers. Without the brake work, I'd estimate about 20 minutes max per corner, once you have the car raised and the wheels off.
Good luck!
The one piece of advice I have is you'll want to compress the shocks and hold them in a compressed state while you maneuver them out of/into place. I've seen this done with zip-ties, but a 2-3' length of rope will work just fine. Tie a loop in one end, and leave the other end free. Once you've removed the mounthng bolts, loop the free end of the rope around the top section of the shock, leaving the looped end about 4-5" shorter than the extended shock. Then, compress the shock by hand, and slip the loop over the lower end of the shock. Once compressed you can maneuver them out without disturbing the rest of the suspension.
I believe the GM service manual suggests removing a tie rod in order to get the rear shock out, but once it's compressed, you can get it out without any trouble.
Installation is the reverse, make sure you tie them up compressed when you go to insert them, or you won't have room.
I replaced my shocks, brake rotors and installed braided stainless brake lines over the weekend in about 4.5 hrs - including bleeding all 4 calipers. Without the brake work, I'd estimate about 20 minutes max per corner, once you have the car raised and the wheels off.
Good luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
It's really pretty straight forward. I just did an install of four Bilstein Sport shocks over the weekend. If you've ever replaced shocks on any car, these are pretty much the same.
The one piece of advice I have is you'll want to compress the shocks and hold them in a compressed state while you maneuver them out of/into place. I've seen this done with zip-ties, but a 2-3' length of rope will work just fine. Tie a loop in one end, and leave the other end free. Once you've removed the mounthng bolts, loop the free end of the rope around the top section of the shock, leaving the looped end about 4-5" shorter than the extended shock. Then, compress the shock by hand, and slip the loop over the lower end of the shock. Once compressed you can maneuver them out without disturbing the rest of the suspension.
I believe the GM service manual suggests removing a tie rod in order to get the rear shock out, but once it's compressed, you can get it out without any trouble.
Installation is the reverse, make sure you tie them up compressed when you go to insert them, or you won't have room.
I replaced my shocks, brake rotors and installed braided stainless brake lines over the weekend in about 4.5 hrs - including bleeding all 4 calipers. Without the brake work, I'd estimate about 20 minutes max per corner, once you have the car raised and the wheels off.
Good luck!
The one piece of advice I have is you'll want to compress the shocks and hold them in a compressed state while you maneuver them out of/into place. I've seen this done with zip-ties, but a 2-3' length of rope will work just fine. Tie a loop in one end, and leave the other end free. Once you've removed the mounthng bolts, loop the free end of the rope around the top section of the shock, leaving the looped end about 4-5" shorter than the extended shock. Then, compress the shock by hand, and slip the loop over the lower end of the shock. Once compressed you can maneuver them out without disturbing the rest of the suspension.
I believe the GM service manual suggests removing a tie rod in order to get the rear shock out, but once it's compressed, you can get it out without any trouble.
Installation is the reverse, make sure you tie them up compressed when you go to insert them, or you won't have room.
I replaced my shocks, brake rotors and installed braided stainless brake lines over the weekend in about 4.5 hrs - including bleeding all 4 calipers. Without the brake work, I'd estimate about 20 minutes max per corner, once you have the car raised and the wheels off.
Good luck!
Not a bad job at all. No need to remove tie rods. You might want to use a floor jack to lift the suspension to help relieve the pressure on the shocks. This will help with all that compression stuff and I was able to do it without any zip ties or ropes. 
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Salinas Ca
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was looking at the manual and tearing my hair out (i'm already bald) worring about the *@%*& tie rod! All hale the forum (life saver) !!! PS just found the little guy waving the flag with my initails. Cool! 
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 18,682
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
here are two links that I have previously seen posted here on the forum....I think they were contributed by JEEP/C5
http://www.c5forum.com/diy/shocks.php
http://fuzzydiceracing.com/test.htm
http://www.c5forum.com/diy/shocks.php
http://fuzzydiceracing.com/test.htm
